az-Zuhd

Understanding/Interpretation that leads some to a life of poverty;

One will not acquire the material joys of this life unless he or she works hard to achieve such a goal. In this regard, mankind pays a significant effort and deep thinking. One may then have to mingle with the worst types of people.

All this will come at the expense of seeking knowledge of the religion, conducting Da'wah unto Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, performing Jihad and worshipping Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. When the slave feels all this and when he has an enlightened heart, he will feel compelled and encouraged to disregard the Dunya, that he will be able to preserved what is essential and that which will never end.

"Then, on that Day, you shall be asked about the delight (you indulged in, in this world)!" (At-Takathur 102:

 The Quran's belittling the significance of the Dunya and its joys, while describing this life as deceiving, false and short-lived pastime that involves wasting the time. Also, Allah's subhanahu wa ta'ala criticism of the adverse effect that excessive indulging in the Dunya will result in the Hereafter.

The numerous Texts in the Quran and the Sunnah about this subject will encourage the Muslim to abandon matters of the Dunya and busy himself with what will truly remain. (excessive is a relative term)

Furthermore, Al-Mustawrid Al-Fihry related from the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam that he said,

"The Dunya, as compared to the Akhirah (the Hereafter), is just like when one of you dips his finger in the sea! Let him see how much (water) it (his finger) will carry." (Sahih Al-Jami')

The Sufi understanding of Zuhd:

Asceticism, which literally means renouncing worldly pleasures and resisting carnal desires, is defined by Sufis as indifference to worldly appetites, living an austere life, choosing to refrain from sin in fear of God, and despising the world’s carnal and material aspects. Asceticism is also described as renouncing this world’s temporary ease and comfort for the sake of eternal happiness in the Hereafter. The first step in asceticism is the intention to avoid what has been forbidden and to engage only in what has been allowed. The second and final step is being extremely careful even when engaging in what is allowed.

An ascetic is steadfast in fulfilling his or her responsibilities, is not defeated by misfortune, and who avoids the traps of sin and evil encountered during the journey. With the exception of unbelief and misguidance, an ascetic is pleased with how the Creator decides to treat him or her, seeks to attain God’s pleasure and the eternal abode through the blessings and bounties that He bestows, and directs others to the absolute Truth. In the ear of his or her heart, the Divine announcement is echoed:

Say: The enjoyment of this world is short; and the Hereafter is better for him who obeys God’s commandments in fear of Him (4:77).

The command: Seek the abode of the Hereafter in that which God has given you, and forget not your portion of the world (28:77) radiates itself through all the cells of his or her brain.

The Divine warning: This life of the world is but a pastime and a game, but the home of the Hereafter, that is Life if they but knew (29:64) penetrates his or her innermost senses.

There is nothing in Islam that even suggest that we should be poor, to the contrary we are to live our life "Wearing our Blessings In Humility", acknowledging the Lord as our provider, being an example of what it means to be a blessed servant of Allah, who is the owner of everything and able to bestow his favor and blessing on whom He will.  we should clean our wealth through Zakat and Sadakat .  We should make sure we are not neglecting our responsibilities to Allah, His Prophet, our families, our neighbors, our communities and our societies.

We should pray for the well being of others and be grateful for what we have not looking at those that have more but those that have less.  Islam is not stagnate and is meant to be the leading force of improvement and prosperity.  Somewhere, along the way the rich made the rest of us believe that it was more religious to be poor.  Poverty mentality has no benefit to anyone and has nothing to do with material wealth.

We are ever in need of Allah in our life this is what makes us poor or Faqir not the absence of material wealth, which Allah bestows on whom he wills,

"Wear Your Blessings Well" (from a sermon I heard this morning), Allah loves beauty, wa Alahu Alim