The other effect of aversion of the world is that the...

The other effect of aversion of the world is that the defects of the world become apparent to man; that is to say, man can witness the deficiencies, lowliness and inferiority of the world in the case that he liberates himself from attachment to it, otherwise it is not expected of the lovers of the world to see the defects of their beloved and darling (the world), because infatuation with the world blinds man’s eyes from seeing its defects and deafens man’s ears from hearing its deficiencies, on the contrary he perceives as beautiful its vileness and supposes his discreditable conduct which has appeared as a result of excessive fondness with the world to be fair.

This interpretation has been explained by different expressions in the Glorious Qur’an, amongst them: ... زَيَّنَّا لَهُمْ أَعْمَالَهُمْ... “…We have made their deeds fair-seeming to them…” [^3] ... بَلْ‌ سَوَّلَتْ لَکُمْ أَنْفُسَکُمْ أَمْرًا... “…your souls have made the matter light for you…” [^4] ... وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمْ‌ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ...

“…and the Satan has made their deeds fair-seeming to them…” [^5] The various interpretations are indicative of this truth that falling in love with the world causes the world and the worldly behavior of man to manifest themselves as fair-seeming in his perception and the more this fondness increases, the more beautiful the world and its defects appear in man’s perception for the reason that the lover does not see the defects and deficiencies of their beloved.

Without doubt, such an individual only sees the outward deceptive world and is incapable of perceiving and comprehending its inner side and seeing beyond it: يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِرًا مِن الْحَيوةِ الدُّنْيا وَهُمْ عَن الآخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَ “They know the outward of this world’s life, but of the hereafter they are absolutely heedless.” [^6] In contrast, clear-sighted and pragmatic people with regard to the world see both its good and its bad.

This group, in contrast to the first group which only sees the beautiful appearance and fair-seeming lines and spots from this venomous snake, also perceives its deadly poison and fatal fang: “The example of the world is like a serpent. It is soft to the touch but its inside is full of venom.

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