Abandoning World

Ali not only consumed simple food but also donned simple clothes. He had only one shawl which was not even big enough to cover his whole body. If he covered his head with the shawl, the toes were exposed and if he covered toes, his head was exposed. He had a very ordinary house in Madina. He was content with it and never wished for a better house. He hated luxurious mansions. During his caliphate, when he moved from Madina to Kufa, he preferred to camp in an open field instead of residing in the Caliph House. When people expressed their astonishment, he said, “Umar ibn Khattab also looked down upon grand mansions and I also do not need them.”

He was a very simple and down to earth man and avoided formalities. When tired, he did not hesitate to sleep on the earthen floor.

ABANDONING WORLD

The world is full of attractions and man is naturally drawn towards them. The world traps man in its deception and forces him to follow its directions. However, the people whose inward is filled with Divine love do not pay any head to the attractions of the world. Love of the world can never sustain in their inward. Ali ibn Abi Talib is among such chosen men of Allah who remain uninclined towards worldly attractions. They cannot affect them even a little bit. In the solitude of night, several times Ali was heard addressing the world in these words: “Do you come to me adorned with attractions and try to allure me? I have separated you forever. You are short lived. Your company is despicable. You are easy to kill. Alas! Provisions for the journey are less. It is a long journey ahead and the path is deserted.”

As per the saying of the Holy Prophet, Ali also called the world carrion. Just like it is unlawful to consume carrion, it is unlawful for a believer to seek the world freeing himself from the worry of