THE SALAF USED TO PREFER THE HEREAFTER TO THIS WORLD
The Salaf Would give priority to the matters of the Hereafter over the mundane ones. So one of them would give priority to his words of remembrance (Adhkâr) after the Subh Prayer over all other activities, just as they would give priority to observing the night prayer in a cold season over sleeping under heavy wool. That was the way of the Salafus-Sâlih, hence whoever wakes up in the morning and his immediate concern is the world has left their path.
Allâh the Most High has said:
“Whoever desires this quick world, We would hasten it for him therein what We wish then We will make the Hell for him to enter with humiliation. But whoever desires the Hereafter and makes striving towards it while he is a believer it is those whose striving is going to be rewarded†[al-Isrâ: 18-19].
And the Prophet (salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam) said,
‘Whoever has the Hereafter as his concern, Allâh would make His sufficiency for him in his heart and will make his affairs closer to him, and the world will come to him while he does not desire it. Whoever makes the world his concern, Allâh will put his poverty between his eyes, and will disrupt his affairs and the world will not come to him except that which has been written for him.’ [Trimidhi (9/288, 289) Ash-Shaykh Al-Albâni said: ‘Its chain of narration is weak but is hasan when other similar chains are considered.’ See: As-Saheehah (no: 949) for more useful details.]
Mâlik bn Dînar (may Allâh bestow mercy on him) used to say:
‘Whoever courts the world, the latter would desire the former’s Deen as the bride price; it will not desire nothing else except that.’
Alî (may Allâh be pleased with him) said:
‘The Hereafter is drawing near while the world is running out; so be among the children of the hereafter and do not be among the children of the world, for today is for action, no rendering of account, and tomorrow is rendering of the account while there is no (chance for) action.’
