Effects of Materialism on Society and its Solution in the Teachings of Hazrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A)

2. Effects of Materialism on Society and its Solution in the Teachings of Hazrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A) Any object and an element of the universe which is observed by our physical senses is called material. Materialism means a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comforts as more important than spiritual values (Oxford Dictionary, 7th Edi). Usually, we attach materialism with Dunia Dari and a materialist is called duniadar. When a person fully involves himself in Dunia Dari, he started getting away from Allah and loses his actual aim of life that is to recognize Almighty Allah. Individual aspiring materialism excessively often fell prey to physical imbalance as well as spiritual decline. An isolated individual becomes the very reason behind an isolated society. Materialism in the light of Holy Quran and Hadith Allah Almighty warned against materialism. According to the Quran: “O you, who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of ALLAH and whoever does that then those are the loser” (63:09). “And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement” (29:64). “So let not the worldly lives delude you” (31:33). According to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) we should always prefer a relationship with Almighty ALLAH to materialism as it is obvious from some quotes: Hazrat Abu Hurairah said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAWW) saying: “This world is cursed and what is in it is cursed, except the remembrance of Allah (dhikr) and what is conducive to

3. that, or one who has the knowledge or who acquires knowledge” (Tarimzi, Ibn e Maja, Mishkat Sharif). "Do not take to the estate, such that you become desirous of the world" (Jami` at-Tirmidhi). “Love of the mundane world is the root cause of all evils” (Mishkat Sharif). It was narrated that Sahl bin Sa’d said, “We were accompanying Messenger of Allah in Dhul- Hulaifah, when we saw a dead sheep lifting its leg (because of bloating). He said: ‘Don’t you think this is worthless to its owner? By God in Whose hand is my soul, this world is more worthless to Allah than this (dead sheep) is to its owner. If this world was worth the wing of a mosquito to Allah, the disbeliever would not have a drop to drink from it” (Tarimzi, Masnad e Ahmad).

4. Jabir b. Abdullah reported that Allah's Apostle (SAWW) happened to walk through the bazar coming from the side of 'Aliya and the people were on both his sides. There he found a dead lamb with very short ears. He took hold of his ear and said: “Who amongst you would like to have this for a dirham? They said: We do not like to have it even for less than that as it is of no use to us. He said: Do you wish to have it free of cost? They said: By Allah, even if it were alive (we would not have liked to possess that), for there is a defect in it as its ear is very short and, now it is dead also. Thereupon, Allah's Messenger (SAWW) said: By Allah, this world is more insignificant in front of Allah than it (this dead lamb) is in your opinion” (Sahi Muslim, Mishkat Sharif). Mustawrid bin Shaddad said: “I was riding with the Messenger of Allah (SAWW) when he came across a dead lamb that had been thrown out’. He said, “Don’t you think that this is worthless to its owners”? It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (SAWW), it is because it is worthless that they have thrown it out, - or words to that effect. He said: ‘By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, this world is more worthless to Allah than this is to its owners’ (Sahi Muslim, Mishkat). Materialism according to the teaching of Hazrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A) Many Sufis talked about the materialistic world, but Sultan Bahoo (R.A) not only discussed materialistic world but also highlighted the greediness, fray, etc. Sultan Bahoo (R.A) was not against wealth rather, Sultan Bahoo urges people to acquire wealth for the right cause (Faheem, 2011). As he says: •Half the curse upon the world and a full curse upon mundane Hoo •Those who have not spent on the path of Almighty, enraged punishment they will Obtain Hoo •It makes fathers slaughter sons, damn your o worldly ploy Hoo •Those who have abandoned the world ‘Bahoo’ spring gardens pleasure they will Enjoy Hoo Sultan Bahoo (R.A) not only negated but also hated worldly desires. He condemned the only love for World. He said that loving the world is synonymous to greed for material possessions and abandoning worldly desires means loving Allah and nurturing one’s spiritual values. Materialistic worries cause depression, stress, and anxiety as well as faded away from the love of Almighty Allah. • • • • This materialism is unclean like woman menstrual and never purified same Hoo In the house of Faqeer where is worldly wealth his life is dam Hoo World love turns away from Allah with unnecessary worry and tension Hoo Divorce worldly wealth three times ‘Bahoo’ if truths to mention Hoo