It was reported that (Prophet) Nuh lived in a house made of wool for nine hundred and fifty years. The Messenger salAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam never put a stone over another [his house was built of mud] and on Umar ibn al-Khattab’s radiAllāhu ‘anhu garment there were twelve patches. This is because they understood that this world is a bridge and a bridge should not be taken as a home. Thus, whoever fails to be aware of this knowledge will be afflicted with the disease of Sharah1, and should cure himself by seeking knowledge and contemplating the biographies of wise scholars.
Footnotes:
1. Sharah: Used for extravagance, and is generally used to refer to gluttony
- Transcribed from: Disciplining the Soul; Tibb al-Ruhāni | Ibn al-Jawzi
How easy it is to get caught up in this dunya, to become ensnared by its glitter, to become lured by its temptations, to become captivated by its fleeting enjoyments. A guise covers our eyes, such that we become immersed in this life and seemingly forget the Hereafter. And indeed, insaan (man) forgets of the eternal life that awaits, and the impending judgment that looms large. And insaan forgets death, even while the fact that others are dying while they themselves remain should serve as the ultimate reminder. And insaan forgets of the torment and torture of Hellfire and the eternal bliss and happiness of Paradise as so vividly described in the Qur’aan.
Then whoever considers the blameworthy characteristics with which Allaah describes the Hypocrites in the Qur’aan will know that they indeed deserve the lowest depth of the Fire. So He describes them as trying to outwit Him and to outwit His servants. He describes their hearts as being diseased: and it is the disease of misgivings and doubts. He also described them as causing corruption upon the earth and mocking His Religion and His servants; and being guilty of transgression; and of taking misguidance in exchange for guidance, and of being deaf, dumb and blind, and in confusion; and laziness upon worship of Him, and being guilty of fornication, and remembering Him little; and wavering – which means their fluctuating between Believers and Unbelievers, so that they are neither fully with these nor with those; and of swearing false and baseless oaths in His name, the Most High. He also described them with extreme cowardice, and with an absence of understanding of the Religion and a lack of knowledge, and with miserliness; and with an absence of true Faith in Allaah and the Last Day; and with their hating that Allah’s command is made manifest; and that they are grieved when the Believers attain good and victory, and that they become overjoyed when trials and tribulations befall them, and they avidly await the Muslims being struck by setbacks.
Tawheed First 