Love of the World is at the Head of Every Sin

حب الدنيا رأس كل خطيئة “Love of this world is at the head of every sin.” It is reported that the beloved Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) said, “Love of this world is at the head of every sin.” Thisnarration has also been translated as, “Love of this world is the essence of every sin.” The word is ‘ra’s’ (literally head), but both translations seem to express, at least in my view, the principle meaning. Imam Al-Bayhaqi reports this in his tome, “Shu’ab Al-Iman” hadith number 10501. Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali in his Jāmi’ Al –‘Ulūm Wal-Hikam states, “…It is reported from Al-Hasan in mursal form.” (300) Imām Al-‘Ajlūnī states in his Kashf Al-Khfā’, “It is reported by Al-Bayhaqi in Ash-Shu’ab Al-Imānwith a Hasan (reliable) chain to Al-Hasan Al-Basri and he elevated it in mursal form. Ad-Daylami mentioned it in his work Al-Firdaws, and his son followed him without mentioning a chain back to ‘Ali (radhiya allāhu ‘anhu). Ibn Al-Ghars said, ‘The narration is weak.’ And Al-Bayhaqi reported it in his‘Az-Zuhd’ and Abu Nu’aym reported it as a statement of ‘Isa ibn Maryam (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). In the report of the son of Imam Ahmad the report includes the words, ‘The head of sin is love of the world, women are satan’s noose (for men), and alcohol is the key to every evil.’ And Imam Ahmad reports in his Zuhd from Sufyan, “Isa ibn Maryam … and then he mentioned the narration.” [End quote of Al-‘Ajlūnī 1/412] Imam As-Suyuti (rahimahullah) states in his ‘Tadrib Ar-Rawi’, “[This hadith … ] is from the words of Mālik ibn Dīnār as reported by ibn Abid-Dunya in Maka’id Ash-Shaytān with his chain. It is also reported as thewords of ‘Isa ibn Maryam (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) as Imam Al-Bayhaqi reports in his Az-Zuhd. There is no basis for it as a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) except from the Mursal narrations of Al-Hasan Al-Basri as reported by Al-Bayhaqi in his Shu’ab Al-Iman, and the mursal narrations of Al-Hasan according to the scholars are شبه الريح. Shaykh ul-Islam (i.e. Ibn Hajr) said, “Its chain is hasan to Al-Hasan (Al-Basri), and his mursal narrations are praised by Abu Zura’ah and Ibn Al-Madini. Hence there is no proof for declaring this narration fabricated”, and the affair is as he said.” [End Quote of Imam As-Suyuti] Imam As-Sakhāwī stated in his Fat-hul Mughīth (1/265), “[this hadith…] Reported by Al-Bayhaqi in his Az-Zuhd and Abu-Nu’aym in his entry on Ath-Thawri in his Al-Hilyah as a statement of Isa ibnMaryam (‘alayhis salaam). Ibn Taymiyyah argues that it is a statement of Jundub Al-Bajali (radhiya allāhu ‘anhu). Ibn Abid-Dunyā reports it as a statement of Mālik ibn Dinār and Ibn Yūnus in his entry on Sa’ad ibn Mas’ūd At-Tjībī in his Tārīkh Al-Masr as a statement of this Sa’ad. However, ImamAl-Bayhaqi reports it in his Ash-Shu’ab with a Hasanchain to Hasan Al-Basri in mursal form…[He mentions Ad-Daylami’s narration from ‘Ali (radhiya allāhu ‘anhu)]…There is no proof (dalīl) to judge this narration as a fabrication with the presence of [all] this [proof].” Ibn Taymiyyah was asked about this hadith, as is reported in the Majmu’ Fatawa, to which he said, “This narration is not preserved from the Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam). However, it is well known from Jundub ibn Abdullah Al-Bajali who is from the Sahābah. And itis mentioned that it is from Al-Masīh (messiah) ibn Maryam (‘alayhis salām)…” [Volume 11] He also says, “وما يرووه: “حب الدنيا رأس كل خطيئة” هذا معروف عن جندب ابن عبد الله البجلي، وأما عن النبي فليس له إسناد معروف”. “This is well known from Jundub ibn Abdullah Al-Bajali, but as for it being from the Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) then there is no well known chain for it.” [18/123]Imām Al-Munāwī in his Fayd-Al-Qadīr mentions (and I am paraphrasing) that the love of this world leads to the inner and outer sins. Love of this worldwill enter a person into the shubuhāt (the doubtfulmatters), then into the Makrūh (the hated matters), then eventually into the Harām, and this does not cease until it may enter him into absolute disbelief (Al-Kufr). All of the nations that rejected their Prophets did so because of what the love of this world lead them too; Kufr (ultimate disbelief). If a Messenger came calling them away from sins that they indulged in, they would indulge themselves and reject whatever the Messenger said due to theirlove of the world. The reason is generally wanting to live forever (khulūd) in this world. The most evil type of love of this world, is love for leadership. It was because of this type of love for the world and what it contains that Fir’awn (pharaoh) and Hāmān and his army rejected and disbelieved in Musā. Their love of this world cause their people to entirethe fire of hell. Imām Al-Munāwī then states, ومن ثم قيل: الدنيا خمر الشيطان فمن شرب منها لم يفق من سكرتها إلا في عسكر الموتى خاسراً نادماً It has also been said: the world is the wine (intoxicant) of Satan, so whoever drinks from it will only awaken from its intoxication in a state of loss and regret when they are among the congregants/hosts/hordes of the dead.” [End Quotefrom Fayd-Al-Qadīr] Oh believer, do not be deceived by the mundane, the worthless world and its temporal pleasures. Allah says, إِنَّ هَؤُلَاء يُحِبُّونَ الْعَاجِلَةَ وَيَذَرُونَ وَرَاءهُمْ يَوْماً ثَقِيلاً “Verily! These (disbelievers) love the present life of this world, and put behind them a heavy Day (that will be hard).” [76:27] And Allah reminds mankind, كل نفس ذائقة الموت وإنما توفون أجوركم يوم القيامة فمن زحزح عن النار وأدخل الجنة فقد فازوما الحياة الدنيا إلا متاع الغرور “Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your fullrecompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fireand admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.” [3:185] Oh Allah! Save protect our hearts from love of this world. Bring us near to you and far from sin. Bless our beloved Sayyid Muhammad, his family, his companions, and those that follow them in ihsaan. Amīn!