Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
What is the Islamic ruling of myself liking something worldly (such as my car) doing something (that is not religious) with an objective besides Allāh, such as learning a language for reading science books? In this regard can you explain the statement:
حب الدنيا رأس كل خطيئة
“Love of this world is the root of all evil.”
In this regard there is also a Turkish saying, “Loving the word is the first of all mistakes.” and a scholar said, “There is no sin bigger than loving this world.” Can you explain these?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathābah Institute.
It is in the nature of the human being to like and want worldly things.
The statement you refer to regarding love of the world as a root to evil, means such love is evil if it distracts one away from the injunctions of the Almighty, the Prophet of Allāh and from leading a righteous life.
“That is because they preferred [and loved] the worldly life over the Hereafter and that Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people.” – (Qur’ān 16:107)[1]
Only Allāh knows best.
[1] ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ اسْتَحَبُّوا الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى الْآخِرَةِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ – النحل ١٠٧
