◈ Materialism and the Roots of Shirk
Materialism is a covert gateway to shirk, as illustrated in Surah Al-Kahf through the story of the man with two gardens. He was engrossed in worldly luxuries—he possessed two vineyards surrounded by date palms and fertile land between them. The gardens flourished abundantly with fruits every year, and a stream flowed between them, completing the circle of worldly resources.
❀ Pride in Wealth and Disbelief
During a conversation with his believing companion, the wealthy man boasted:
❝أَنَا أَكْثَرُ مِنكَ مَالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا❞
"I have more wealth than you and more honor in terms of power and people."
As he walked through his gardens, he proudly said:
❝مَا أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَٰذِهِ أَبَدًا❞
"I do not think this garden will ever perish."
He even denied the Hereafter:
❝وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً...❞
"I do not think the Hour will ever come..."
◈ The Believer’s Response
His believing friend challenged this materialistic and polytheistic thinking by saying:
❝أَكَفَرْتَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَكَ...❞
"Have you disbelieved in the One Who created you..."
And then declared:
❝لَّٰكِنَّا هُوَ اللَّهُ رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا❞
"But as for me, He is Allah, my Lord, and I do not associate anyone with my Lord."
✔ The Reality of Materialism
The man’s arrogance was rooted in denial of divine will. The believer corrected him and reminded him to have said upon entering his garden:
❝مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ❞
"What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except with Allah."
◈ The Inevitable Outcome
As a result, Allah sent a calamity that destroyed the gardens:
❝فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَا أَنفَقَ...❞
He began wringing his hands in regret for all he had spent.
Eventually, he admitted his fault:
❝يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا❞
"Would that I had not associated anyone with my Lord."
◈ The Modern Form of Shirk
Contemporary civilization is deeply entangled in this form of shirk. It elevates physical means, technology, and experts to the level of divine power. Life, success, failure, luck, and fate are believed to be controlled solely by these material forces. This reliance is a modern form of idol worship—placing complete trust in created means while sidelining the Creator.
◈ The Temporary Nature of Worldly Life
The Qur'an describes this worldly life as a fleeting cultivation that will soon perish:
❝كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ...❞
"Like water We sent down from the sky..."
It further states:
❝ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُ حُطَامًا❞
"Then it dries up and you see it yellow; then He makes it debris."
◈ Teachings of Heavenly Religions
The divine religions reject materialistic philosophies. The Qur'an and the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ emphasize that true life is the life of the Hereafter. The Prophet ﷺ would say:
❝اللَّهُمَّ لَا عَيْشَ إِلَّا عَيْشُ الْآخِرَة❞
"O Allah! There is no life except the life of the Hereafter."
He also used to pray:
❝اللّهُمَّ اجْعَلُ رِزْقَ آل مُحَمَّدِ قُوتاً❞
"O Allah! Make the sustenance of the family of Muhammad just enough for subsistence."
And once said:
❝وَالله مَا الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ...❞
"By Allah, the worldly life compared to the Hereafter is like one of you dipping his finger in the sea—let him see what it returns with."
✔ A Mirror of True Belief
The life of the Prophet ﷺ perfectly reflected this conviction. He lived simply, slept on a straw mat, and chose to live with minimal worldly possessions, stating that the disbelievers have been rewarded for their good in this world.
◈ Conclusion
Materialism leads to a subtle yet dangerous form of shirk—placing trust in worldly means while ignoring the Creator. It is a modern idol worship that challenges faith and servitude. True success lies not in wealth and power, but in firm belief in the One Who controls all affairs.
Materialism is a covert gateway to shirk, as illustrated in Surah Al-Kahf through the story of the man with two gardens. He was engrossed in worldly luxuries—he possessed two vineyards surrounded by date palms and fertile land between them. The gardens flourished abundantly with fruits every year, and a stream flowed between them, completing the circle of worldly resources.
❀ Pride in Wealth and Disbelief
During a conversation with his believing companion, the wealthy man boasted:
❝أَنَا أَكْثَرُ مِنكَ مَالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا❞
"I have more wealth than you and more honor in terms of power and people."
As he walked through his gardens, he proudly said:
❝مَا أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَٰذِهِ أَبَدًا❞
"I do not think this garden will ever perish."
He even denied the Hereafter:
❝وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً...❞
"I do not think the Hour will ever come..."
◈ The Believer’s Response
His believing friend challenged this materialistic and polytheistic thinking by saying:
❝أَكَفَرْتَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَكَ...❞
"Have you disbelieved in the One Who created you..."
And then declared:
❝لَّٰكِنَّا هُوَ اللَّهُ رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا❞
"But as for me, He is Allah, my Lord, and I do not associate anyone with my Lord."
✔ The Reality of Materialism
The man’s arrogance was rooted in denial of divine will. The believer corrected him and reminded him to have said upon entering his garden:
❝مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ❞
"What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except with Allah."
◈ The Inevitable Outcome
As a result, Allah sent a calamity that destroyed the gardens:
❝فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَا أَنفَقَ...❞
He began wringing his hands in regret for all he had spent.
Eventually, he admitted his fault:
❝يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا❞
"Would that I had not associated anyone with my Lord."
◈ The Modern Form of Shirk
Contemporary civilization is deeply entangled in this form of shirk. It elevates physical means, technology, and experts to the level of divine power. Life, success, failure, luck, and fate are believed to be controlled solely by these material forces. This reliance is a modern form of idol worship—placing complete trust in created means while sidelining the Creator.
◈ The Temporary Nature of Worldly Life
The Qur'an describes this worldly life as a fleeting cultivation that will soon perish:
❝كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ...❞
"Like water We sent down from the sky..."
It further states:
❝ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُ حُطَامًا❞
"Then it dries up and you see it yellow; then He makes it debris."
◈ Teachings of Heavenly Religions
The divine religions reject materialistic philosophies. The Qur'an and the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ emphasize that true life is the life of the Hereafter. The Prophet ﷺ would say:
❝اللَّهُمَّ لَا عَيْشَ إِلَّا عَيْشُ الْآخِرَة❞
"O Allah! There is no life except the life of the Hereafter."
He also used to pray:
❝اللّهُمَّ اجْعَلُ رِزْقَ آل مُحَمَّدِ قُوتاً❞
"O Allah! Make the sustenance of the family of Muhammad just enough for subsistence."
And once said:
❝وَالله مَا الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ...❞
"By Allah, the worldly life compared to the Hereafter is like one of you dipping his finger in the sea—let him see what it returns with."
✔ A Mirror of True Belief
The life of the Prophet ﷺ perfectly reflected this conviction. He lived simply, slept on a straw mat, and chose to live with minimal worldly possessions, stating that the disbelievers have been rewarded for their good in this world.
◈ Conclusion
Materialism leads to a subtle yet dangerous form of shirk—placing trust in worldly means while ignoring the Creator. It is a modern idol worship that challenges faith and servitude. True success lies not in wealth and power, but in firm belief in the One Who controls all affairs.
