Presently, this world has become a repository for numerous forms of temptations and challenges. One of the fundamental challenges facing every human is that of the 'stomach'. Unfortunately, nourishing the stomach and self-indulgence has become one of the important objects of life. Every person desires delicious food and a taste causes his palate and taste buds to tinge. This problem has become so widespread that very few individuals are spared from it. It seems as if everyone is involved in this calamity -whether he be a businessman or shop assistant, a school teacher or a university professor, a madrasah Ustaad or Masjid imam. However, there is definitely a difference in the degree of involvement. Unfortunately, there are no signs of good character and excellent qualities such as abstinence, contentment, piety, sincerity and preferring others above oneself. Consequently, despite the abundance of material means, the entire universe is burning in the furnace of greed, desire, avarice, temptation, stomach-nourishing and wealth-searching. The smoke of agony, distress, trouble, fear, insecurity, confusion, perplexity and restlessness has enveloped the entire world.

The fundamental cause of this universally inflaming fitnah is that which Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has indicated -extremely weak yaqin (conviction) of the akhirah. Meditating about the bounties and comforts of the akhirah has become practically extinct. Material comfort has become so dominant that the importance of ruhaniyyat (spirituality) has faded away. Consequently, the yardstick for measuring mastership and servitude, honour and disgrace, superiority and inferiority is no longer the ayah: "Certainly the most honoured amongst you is he who fears", Allah most, "but rather the 'stomach' and the 'pocket'.

In this flood of materialism, Iman and yaqin were lost, human character was destroyed, attachment to the Sunnah weakened, resulting in the termination of 'amale sdlihah (good deeds), social relations, transactions lost their course and civilisation and political systems crumbled. Now this storm of materialism is pushing mankind towards the pit of animalism. It is the reign of individual, unprincipled shameless immorality, reckless extravagance, tyranny and misery. May Allah Ta'ala protect us.

In short, the fitnah of the 'stomach' has transmuted (completely changed) the entire world. The intellectuals of the world seemed to be helpless before this fitnah of materialism; they wish to redress the dreadful damages caused by this fitnah, but oh! Alas! They prescribe as a remedy those things, which aggravate the sickness. In reality, only the Ambiyaa (Alayhim salaam) are the spiritual physicians of human beings. Only their prescribed treatment will cure the ailing patient. Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) correctly diagnosed this fatal sickness long ago, i.e. said, "By Allah, I do not fear poverty upon you hut I fear that the world will be presented to you as it was presented to those before you. Then you will vie with one another to acquire it. This will destroy you as it destroyed those before you." (Bukhari. Muslim)

Understand that this is the focal point, which caused the deterioration of mankind -to regard this world as precious, and valuable and compete with one another to acquire it. Thereafter, Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) did not only suffice on diagnosing the sickness, but also prescribed a comprehensive treatment comprising of two parts. One related to belief and the other to a’amal (practice).

The part related to belief is that at all times the reality of the world should be kept in mind -we are visitors in this world for a short period of time -every condition of comfort and ease, difficulty and hardship is transparent -the luxuries and comforts of this world in comparison with the precious bounties and everlasting comforts of the akhirah are worthless. The Qur'an-e-Karim extends a full invitation towards this belief. At numerous places it explains this reality: In Surah 'Ala, with extreme eloquence, brevity, and comprehensiveness, the Qur’an-e-Karim warns, "Listen carefully! (You do not give importance to the akhirah). Rather you prefer the worldly life over it whereas the akhirah is better and more permanent." The part related to amal is that while living in this world preparation should be made for the akhirah. Complete abstention should be observed from haram and doubtful matters as if they are poison.

Keep away from complete engagement in the enjoyment and desires of this world. Consider the wealth and material of this world, wife and children, relatives and family, tribe and nation to be unavoidable necessities of life. Associate with them according to the extent of necessity. Do not choose anyone of them to live a life of luxury and enjoyment. Do not make worldly luxury the object of life. Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, " Abstain from living a luxurious life because the servants of Allah do not live a luxurious life."

It is amazing to see that on the mere opinion and advice of a doctor, bounties such as milk, meat, rice etc are not consumed because they may be harmful to the health. However, no willingness is shown to abstain from insignificant desires because of the clear commands of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and other pure heavenly revelations.

If the complete standard of life of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), his family and Sahaba (Radiyallahu Anhum) is studied, then it will be clearly understood that attachment of the heart to worldly bounties is insanity. Imam Bukhari (Rahmatullaahi Alayhi) has mentioned that Hazrat Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu Anhu) once passed by a group of people before whom grilled (braai) meat was served. They invited him to partake of the meat. He refused their invitation and said: "Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) left this world in the condition that he (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) did not eat barley bread to his fill." Months used to pass, but no lamps at night nor any stove during the day was lit in the house of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). The only form of food was water and dates. At times, this was also not available. Three days used to pass without any food. Stones used to be tied to the bellies to keep the back upright. In these conditions, wars and battles were fought.

In short, abstinence, poverty, hunger, bravery, courage, hard work and disinclination towards the luxuries of this world were the distinguishing qualities of the pure life of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Each person should feel ashamed after comparing his condition to this ‘pure life’. All our affairs depend on our bread and stomach. This was not an issue at all with Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and the Sahaba (Radiyallahu Anhum).

It should clearly be understood that such a life was intentionally chosen so that the proof of Allah Ta'ala could be established upon the coming generations. If Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) had wished, Allah Ta' ala would have granted him all the luxuries and comfort of this world. However, the wealth and material of this world for which we are destroying ourselves is so low and insignificant in the esteem of Allah Ta'ala that he does not wish to pollute his beloved and chosen servants with them.

Some Ambiyaa (Alayhim Salaam) were given great kingdoms but this did not cause any difference in their qualities of abstinence, contentment and disinclination towards the world. Whatever they possessed was for others. They kept nothing for themselves.

In brief, the correct treatment for the 'fitnah of the stomach', is that which was prescribed by the Ambiyaa (Alaihimus Salaam), especially Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Moreover, if a person protects himself from the 'fitnah of the stomach', then Insha Allah, he will be protected from the 'fitnah of the private parts'. This perverted loss only occurs to the person whose stomach is full. A hungry person has no such desire.

The Islamic term for protection against these two fitnahs is 'taqwaa (fear of Allah Ta'ala)'. Numerous glad-tidings have been mentioned for developing this quality. In Islam, the position of a Muslim as far as the world is concerned is like that weak patient who (in order to remain alive) has been strongly advised to eat light, simple food and abstain from relishing his tongue so that he could regain his desired health.