Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim

1. Introduction

In cognitive psychology, humans have two systems of needs: physical needs for survival and existential needs to find meaning. Those who pursue only material things (materialism) will experience the hedonic treadmill, where physical pleasure lasts only briefly and always demands more, leaving the soul feeling empty. Conversely, those who are overly ascetic (abandoning the world to an extreme) without mental preparation can suffer psychological stress and social dysfunction. Moderation, or Wasathiyah, is the soul’s “Homeostasis” point. Scientifically, a balance between meeting worldly needs and maintaining spiritual health releases stable serotonin, creating long-term tranquility that does not depend on the size of your savings balance, yet remains realistic in living life.

Evidence from the Qur’an and Hadith

Allah SWT and His Messenger command us to walk in the middle, not leaning too far to one side:

وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنْسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا

"But seek, through what Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter, and do not forget your share of the world." (QS. Al-Qashas : 77 )

لَيْسَ بِخَيْرِكُمْ مَنْ تَرَكَ دُنْيَاهُ لِآخِرَتِهِ وَلَا آخِرَتَهُ لِدُنْيَاهُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ مِنْهُمَا جَمِيعًا

"The best among you is not one who abandons this world for the Hereafter, nor one who abandons the Hereafter for this world, until he obtains both." (HR. Ibn Asakir, from Anas bin Malik)

2. Lessons and Messages

Be a person who places the world in your hands, not in your heart. With the world in your hands, you can easily manage it and just as easily let it go to help others. Do not become a slave to material things, enslaved by wealth, but do not become a burden to others under the pretext of zuhud (asceticism). Economic independence used for obedience is the pinnacle of noble character.Recall the story of a Companion of the Prophet, Abdurrahman bin Auf. He was one of the wealthiest men in Madinah, yet his wealth never diminished the quality of his worship. One day he wept before a delicious meal. When asked why, he replied, "Mush'ab bin Umair died—he was better than me—yet his shroud wasn’t long enough to cover his feet when his head was covered. I fear that my good deeds have been hastened for me in this world." Abundant wealth did not make him arrogant; instead, it made him more fearful and humble before Allah. This is the face of Wasathiyah: rich in wealth yet still poor (feeling in need) before his Creator.Wasathiyah between materialism and asceticism is like a boat on the ocean. For the boat to reach its destination island (the Hereafter), it must be on the water (worldly material). Without water, the boat cannot move. Yet if that water enters the boat, the boat will sink. Use the world as a means of travel, but do not let it enter and drown your heart.There was a young man who claimed he wanted extreme zuhud. He quit his job, refused to eat good food, and just sat in the mosque waiting for a miracle. When hungry, he prayed, "O Allah, Your ascetic servant needs sustenance." Suddenly his mother arrived with a lunchbox, scolding him: "Son, zuhud shouldn’t make your mother busy cooking every day for you while you’re unemployed! You’re not practicing zuhud; you’re just too lazy to work and using religious arguments!" The young man blushed in embarrassment. The lesson: Don’t let our “piety” become a financial burden to others. The coolest worship is worship from the sweat of your own brow!

3. Conclusion

Dear brothers and sisters, Wasathiyah is the way out of the anxieties of this age. We keep working hard, we keep enjoying Allah’s blessings, but we never forget that all of it is merely a means to attain His pleasure. Let us live with the right proportion: work professionally, worship with devotion."O Allah, suffice us with what is lawful from You so we do not seek what is unlawful, and fill our hearts with gratitude so that the world does not control our souls. Amin."

والله أعلم بالصواب

الحمد لله رب العالمين

Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmaullahi Wabarakatuh.

ِAbu Sultan Al-Qadrie