What is really far from Allah?
The Dunya is Distant from Allah: Understanding the Prophet's Teaching on Worldly Life
Summary
This lecture discusses a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) states that the dunya (worldly life) is mal'unah, meaning it is distant or far from Allah in virtue. Sh. Ali Mashhour explains that the dunya itself is neutral and inanimate, and the term mal'unah refers to a figurative distance of virtue rather than a curse. However, certain aspects are excepted from this distance: the remembrance and worship of Allah, and scholars with their students. The lecture emphasizes that knowledge—particularly of the Quran and Sunnah—and even worldly knowledge pursued with righteous intention for the sake of Allah, are not part of this distance and remain valuable beyond death.
Note: This transcript was generated using YouTube's automatic captioning, with AI-assisted cleanup for readability. It may contain inaccuracies due to background noise, audio quality, or limitations of the transcription software — particularly during Arabic recitation. Listener discretion is advised; please refer to the original video for precise wording.
So here we have a narration on the authority of Abu Hurairah.
[Arabic recitation]
Alayhi wasallam makes a statement of truth. A truism, something that is an objective truth about the nature of this dunya and its relationship to Allah.
[Arabic recitation]
So listen to this narration. He says, "Ad-dunya mal'unah. Mal'un ma fiyha." He says, "The dunya and what is meant by the world the word dunya? Dunya.
[Silence]
The word dunya is either taken in the Arabic language or originates from lowliness because it is lowly compared to the hereafter. It is inferior. Or closeness because the dunya to us is closer to us right now than the hereafter is currently. And so it is referred to as the dunya. Meaning the closer of the two lives, the closer of the two existences that the human being has. Allah the the prophet says in this narration that the dunya, meaning the life of this world, it is mal'unah. Now, sometimes this word is translated as cursed. But, that is not what is intended here by mal'unah because the dunya in itself is neutral. It's neither good nor bad. And the dunya in itself, in and of itself, is an inanimate object. It's not something that has good or bad in it a human being has good or bad in him. Rather, what is meant by al-la'n in the Arabic language is that which is far, distant. When the prophet says here in this narration that the dunya is mal'unah, it means that it is far away from Allah subhanahu.
[Arabic recitation]
It is distant from Allah. It is not close to Allah. Everything in the dunya is far from Allah, but there are a couple of exceptions. So, essentially, the dunya is far from Allah. And when we say far here, we're speaking of figurative distance, a distance of virtue. Virtually virtuously speaking, it has no virtue except the following parts of it. So, he says, except for the remembrance of Allah, the mention of Allah, and the acts of worship of Allah. But, the question really is, is the remembrance of Allah considered part of the dunya? The life of the dunya? No. As-salat, for instance, is it part of the dunya? No. It is part of the hereafter, and it is something that transcends the dunya.
[Silence]
And so, except here really means is translated to however. However. So, the prophet is saying here, the dunya, it is far from Allah. However, the remembrance of Allah and the worship of Allah, these are things which are not of the dunya. So, they are close to Allah. And then he mentions one more thing. He says, "Wa'aliman aw muta'aliman." And furthermore, the scholar and his students. These things are exempt from being distant from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. So, we have a dunya, all that's in this world, is essentially distant from Allah. It is distant from Allah. It is not of Allah. It is distant. It is further. It is closer to us in proximity, but it is further from Allah in virtue. However, that which we can partake in, which is not of loss and not of the dunya, is the remembrance of Allah and the worship of Allah and the scholar and his students. Meaning those people of knowledge and the knowledge that they learn and teach to others. And obviously, what is meant by knowledge here is knowledge of revelation, knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah. If a person learns anything, whatever a person learns of the dunya, if they use their intention and learn this thing, let's say medicine or you know, mathematics or physics or any any skill that is of the dunya, but they learn it, but they use it and use that knowledge for the sake of Allah, then those actions become an act of worship. They are not worship in themselves, but they become rewarded because of the person's intention. But, the mathematician and the physicist and the doctor and the Once the death comes to a person, once a person dies, they leave these things behind. This is very similar to wealth, money. It is inherited by other people, and this no longer is of consequence to this person. This person moves on from this dunya into a reality where those rules and knowledge does not does not apply.
[Arabic recitation]
Ta'ala and you are learning now men kitab ma jahilna wa an yudhakirna minhu ma nasina hikmatan minhu wa an yubarika lana fil Quran al-Azim wa an yanfa'ana bima fihi min al-ayat wa.
[Arabic recitation]