You know that hollow feeling? The one that settles in your chest after chasing money, upgrade after upgrade, only to feel emptier after every win? This emptiness is no accident. It’s the disease Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned us about—“wahn.” And let me tell you, it’s killing the Ummah softly, one missed Salah, one sleepless night, one “just one more” at a time.
Look, we talk about heart attacks and anxiety, but spiritual disease? That’s wahn—love for this world (dunya), and the worst kind of fear: not of failure, not of loss, but of leaving dunya itself.
The Prophetic Diagnosis: Wahn in Action
Let’s get straight to the hadith.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, in Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith 4297): “People will soon summon one another to attack you, as people call each other to share a dish. Someone asked, ‘Will we be few that day?’ He replied, ‘No, you will be numerous, but you will be as useless as the foam of the sea, and Allah will remove fear of you from the hearts of your enemies and put wahn into your hearts.’ Someone asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is wahn?’ He replied, ‘Love for the dunya and hatred for death.’”
Islamic experts, quoting centuries of tafsir and ethics, explain that this is not sweet poetic metaphor. “Wahn” is literal spiritual paralysis—when material pursuits make us weak, fearful, divided.
Ayat That Shake You Awake: Dunya’s Trap
The Quran doesn’t mince words.
[Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 212]
“Worldly life has been made attractive to those who disbelieve. They ridicule the believers, but those mindful of Allah will rank higher on the Day of Resurrection…”
And another:
[Surah Imran, Ayah 14]
“Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire—women, children, gold and silver, horses, cattle, and fields. Those are the pleasures of worldly life, but with Allah ﷻ is the best return.”
Islamic scholars, including Imam Ghazali and masters of tazkiyah, teach in their works: “The dunya’s allure isn’t wrong in itself—it’s when love for it takes root, blocking remembrance of Allah ﷻ.”
Real Scenarios: How Wahn Grows
- You work overtime, dreaming of a bigger home—but every new room feels just as empty, and your heart’s still restless after Fajr.
- You scroll social feeds, envy stinging, as you watch peers succeed. But when your own numbers grow, relief doesn’t last.
- Your child asks, “Why are you always chasing more?” You say, “It’s for you.” But deep down, you know you’re really running from fear—fear of loss and fear of letting go.
- At funerals, you feel terror—not of the grave, but of leaving everything unfinished and unloved behind.
“Wahn manifests as chronic dissatisfaction, anxiety, and bitterness over death.” Didn’t get that dream job? Jealousy flares—not just at others, but even at Allah’s decree.
How Wahn Eats Away Iman
Here’s the thing. You don’t have to be rich to be sick with wahn. Poverty with addiction to dunya is just as deadly. The real problem is what scholars call “hubbud dunya”—worldly love that blinds your soul.
- A sick heart measures joy by possessions, not prayers.
- You fear pain and the end more than missing your daily connection with Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He).
- Every plan, every ambition, calculated on “What can I get?”—not “How can I serve Allah ﷻ?”
Zuhd (abstinence from dunya) is not about giving up wealth, but freeing your heart from slavery to desires so it becomes available to worship Allah ﷻ. The blame is not in wealth or status—it’s in letting them distract you, chain you, or define you.
Blockquotes for Soul Surgery: The Cure, Quran-Style
Let’s let the Quran cut through.
[Surah Al-Hadid, Ayah 20]
“Know that the life of this world is but play and amusement, adornment and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children…”
And the knife-edge:
[Surah Al-Mu’minun, Ayah 1-3]
“Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers, and who shun vain conversation…”
Real happiness starts with humility, dhikr, purpose—not the size of your digital wallet.
The Prophetic Prescription: Step-by-Step Cure
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said (Tirmidhi, Hasan): “The love of this world is the reason behind every sin.”
So how do you break wahn’s chains? Here’s the exact method outlined by masters of Islamic purification (tazkiyah):
1. Super Taqwa (Extreme God-consciousness):
Practice daily muraqabah—accounting for every intention before you act. Abandon small sins to build walls against bigger losses.
2. Super Dhikr (Constant Remembrance):
Make dhikr your scissors. Recite regularly, quietly, with your heart open: “SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar.” Every chain to dunya weakens as dhikr grows.
3. Super Sohbat (Righteous Company):
Surround yourself with those pursuing akhirah, not applause. Companions of the Qur’an and Sunnah make dropping dunya easy—and holding it hard.
Dhikr, taqwa, and the company of mashaikh (righteous elders) are the scissors that cut dunya’s rope around your neck.
4. Transform Needs Into Tools for Worship:
The best way to get the good of dunya is not to chase it—but to make Allah your focus and let dunya follow as He decrees. Make every purchase, every plan, every comfort, a means to worship, not a master over you.
Featured Snippet: Breaking Wahn
Question: What did Prophet Muhammad ﷺ say about wahn, and how can Muslims overcome love of dunya?
Answer: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated wahn means love of dunya and dislike of death; he warned it weakens faith. Overcome it by increasing God-consciousness, regular dhikr, seeking righteous company, and using worldly means only to serve Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He).
Circle Back—Do You Really Want the Cure?
You’ve felt wahn’s poison. Now, the scissors are in your hand. Every dhikr is a snip. Every prayer, a step back toward Allah ﷻ, away from dunya’s quicksand. The Prophet ﷺ didn’t leave us stuck. He gave us the cure, laid it bare in bold hadith, and lived it. You can cut away dunya—one honest dua, one rejected vice, one return to the prayer mat at a time.
And when the fear creeps in—that fear of losing status, comfort, or wealth—remember, every Sahabi (May Allah be pleased with him/her) walked away from dunya for Allah’s love, and none regretted it on the Day the veil was lifted.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in presenting Islamic teachings, readers are strongly advised to consult qualified Islamic scholars in their local area for specific religious rulings, detailed interpretations, and matters requiring expert guidance.