Hadhrat Sheikhul Hadith, Moulana Zakariyya Rahmatullahi ‘Alaihi mentions:
Imaam Ghazali Rahmatullahi ‘Alaihi writes:
An Aalim who is enamoured of the world is meaner and lower in spiritual status than an ignorant person; he will be punished in the Hereafter more severely. Successful indeed are the Ulama who have been favoured with nearness to Allah Ta’alaa and who are ever concerned about the Hereafter.
There are certain distinguishing signs of such Ulama:
The first and foremost, a true Alim is one who does not try to acquire wealth through his learning. The lowest of rank is one who is fully aware that this material world is despicable, mean, polluted and evanescent; and that the life of the Hereafter is vast, everlasting and glorious beyond imagination, the bounties whereof are absolutely pure. Besides, every true ‘Alim fully understands that this world and there Hereafter are opposed to each other. They are, to say, like two wives married to one and the same husband: when one is pleased with him, the other is naturally displeased. To give another example, they are like two scales of a balance-when one goes down, the other goes up automatically. Indeed, the present world and the world Hereafter are poles apart. They are like two wives of a person; if you seek to get closer to one, it will be at the expense of the other. And he has not a sane mind who does not realise that this material world has low value and is impure, the pleasures whereof are gained at the cost of hardships in this world and in the Hereafter. It is a common experience that all worldly joys involve taking pains in this world and unavoidable sufferings in the Hereafter. How can a person of such insane mind become an ‘Alim. Furthermore, a person who has no idea of the magnificence of the Hereafter and its everlastingness, is not a true believer. How can such a one become ‘An Alim’? If a person does not realize that the world and the next have opposing interests and wishes to combine both, he is trying to do something which is undesirable. Such people are infact ignorant of the code of life of all the Ambiyaa of Allah Ta’alaa.
And if a person knows all these facts and, still, gives preference to his worldly interests, he is a slave of Shaitaan ruined by lusts and facing an evil Fate. Obviously, such a lost soul cannot be counted among the Ulama.
Hadhrat Dawood Alaihis Salaam relates that Allah Ta’alaa says: “If an Alim prefers worldly desires to My love, the least I do to him is that I deprive him of the bliss of having communion with Me. (He) cannot experience the sublime joys inherent in the Remembrance or “Zikr” of Allah Ta’alaa and in invocations to Him). O Dawood, have no regard for an ‘Alim who has been intoxicated by his lust for this material world, for he would lead you astray from My love. Such people are, in reality, deceitful plunderers. O Dawood, if you find someone who really seeks My Countenance, be thou a servant to him. O Dawood, if anyone comes to Me running, I record his name as a ‘Jahbaz’ (a sane wise person) and I do not punish a man who has been recorded as such.”
Yayha b. Mu’aaz Rahmatullahi ‘Alaihi says: “When knowledge and wisdom are employed for gaining worldly advantages, these are divested of lustre and glory.’ Sa’eed b. Al-Musayyab Rahmatullahi Alaihi says: ‘If you find an ‘Alim associating with the princes, he must be a dishonest imposter.”
Umar Radhiyallahu ‘Anhu says: “If you find an ‘Alim enamoured of this material world, he must be blameworthy in religous matters for everybody occupies himself with things which are dear to him.”
Someone asked a divine “Can anyone who takes pleasure in sinful deeds become an ‘Arif’ (a pious being with intimate knowledge of his Sustainer”? The divine replied, “I can say, without hesitation, that no one who prefers this world to the next, can be an ‘Arif’, relishing sins is a far greater evil!”
It should also be borne in mind that no ‘Alim can be regarded as one concerned about the Hereafter merely for his rejection of worldly wealth, unless he also has no ambition for worldly honour or status. For these ambitions are more harmful to the soul than the lust for wealth.
Source: Fadhail-e-Sadaqah Pg 431 – 433
