Get used to harsh conditions

COMMENTING on Sheikh Bakr Abu Zayd’s advice, “...and do not indulge in luxury and comfort...”, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Uthaymeen said: “This is a piece of advice that should be given to both students of knowledge and (common people). This is because indulging in luxury and comfort contradicts the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He forbade excessive luxury. He would sometimes enjoin others to be barefoot. A person who becomes accustomed to comfort will find it difficult to face situations that may not come with the comfort he is used to.





Let’s take the hadith of occasionally being barefoot for example. Some people never leave their feet bare. They always have to wear socks, khuffs, or shoes. If you were to suggest such a person to walk 500 meters without wearing anything to protect his feet, it will be extremely hard for him. His feet might even start bleeding from the harshness of the ground! If one makes himself accustomed to harsh conditions by avoiding constant comfort, you will find such a person blessed with much good.





If the body is not accustomed to such conditions, it will not have immunity to pain. So, a person accustomed to comfort will be hurt at the slightest of things, while a (strong) person will be immune and he won’t feel pain at all. This is why the hands of laborers are much stronger and firmer than the hands of students of knowledge.





There is nothing deterring or preventing a laborer from doing any type of job, since his hands have already become accustomed to these conditions. If you touch their hands, it will feel as if you are touching a rock because of the roughness. There is no doubt that being accustomed to comfort and luxury will harm a person extensively.” – Sharh Hilyat Talib Al-’Ilm, pg. 43