The True Value of This Earthly Life
Allah ﷻ says:
زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاء وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالَانْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ
Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, Qanatir Al-Muqantarah of gold and silver, branded beautiful horses (Musawwamah), cattle and fertile land.
Allah ﷻ mentions the delights that He put in this life for people, such as women and children, and He started with women, because the test with them is more tempting.
For instance, the Sahih recorded that the Messenger (ﷺ)said:
مَا تَرَكْتُ بَعْدِي فِتْنَةً أَضَرَّ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النِّسَاء
“I did not leave behind me a test more tempting to men than women.„
When one enjoys women for the purpose of having children and preserving his chastity, then he is encouraged to do so.
There are many Hadiths that encourage getting married, such as:
وَإِنَّ خَيْرَ هذِهِ الاْإُمَّةِ مَنْ كَانَ أَكْثَرَهَا نِسَاء
“Verily, the best members of this Ummah are those who have the most wives„
He (ﷺ) also said:
الدُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ وَخَيْرُ مَتَاعِهَا الْمَرْأَةُ الصَّالِحَة
“This life is a delight, and the best of its delight is a righteous wife„
The Prophet ﷺ said in another Hadith:
حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ النِّسَاءُ وَالطِّيبُ وَجُعِلَتْ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَة
“I was made to like women and perfume, and the comfort of my eye is the prayer„
Aishah رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا Said:
\"Nothing was more beloved to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) than women, except horses,\"
and in another narration:
\"...than horses except women.\"
The desire to have children is sometimes for the purpose of pride and boasting, and as such, is a temptation. When the purpose for having children is to reproduce and increase the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ with those who worship Allah alone without partners, then it is encouraged and praised.
A Hadith states:
تَزَوَّجُوا الْوَدُودَ الْوَلُودَ فَإِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمُ الاُْمَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة
“Marry the Wadud (kind) and Walud (fertile) woman, for I will compare your numbers to the rest of the nations on the Day of Resurrection„
The desire of wealth sometimes results out of arrogance, and the desire to dominate the weak and control the poor, and this conduct is prohibited. Sometimes, the want for more money is for the purpose of spending it on acts of worship, being kind to the family, the relatives, and spending on various acts of righteousness and obedience; this behavior is praised and encouraged in the religion.
[📚Tafsir Surātul Aal-e-Imrān 3:14]
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