Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I dont understand the meaning of this Hadith?

"The heart of an old man remains young in two respects ie his love for the world and his perpetual hopes"

Ja-za-kum allahu khairan inadvance 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

The desire for more

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verse 14:

14 Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women, and sons, heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals!

It is in the very inherent ‘fitrah’ and nature bestowed on man that he is naturally and permanently inclined to and tempted towards the things that he covets and loves of the provisions and abundance of this world….women, off-spring, wealth, branded vehicles, magnificent properties, etc.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.429 Narrated by Abu Huraira

I heard Allah's Messenger (saws) saying, "The heart of an old man remains young in two respects, i.e., his love for the world (its wealth, amusements and luxuries) and his incessant hope."

The above quoted authentic ‘hadith’ of the Messenger of Allah (saws) merely confirms this fact of nature and inclination of man, and makes known that the old age of one does not diminish this natural love and inclination towards the garnering of more of the luxuries of this world, nor his incessant hope and desire for receiving more!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 102 Surah Takhathur verses 1-2:

1 The mutual rivalry for piling up (the good of this world) diverts you (from the more serious things; ie. salvation in the life Hereafter)

2 Until ye visit the graves (ie. until one is buried in one’s grave!)

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.446 Narrated by Sahl bin Sad

I heard Ibn Az-Zubair saying that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "If the son of Adam were given a valley full of gold, he would love (or hope) to have a second one; and if he were given the second one, he would love (or hope) to have a third, for nothing fills the belly of Adam's son except dust (ie. one is buried in one’s grave!). And Allah forgives he who repents to Him"

Thus the ‘hadith’ of the Messenger of Allah (saws) that the heart of even an old man remains young in two respects: his love for the world and his incessant hope is merely to make the believers aware of the fact that these inclinations and temptations are inbuilt in their very nature of man, and old age neither diminishes this desire nor reduces one’s hope for collecting more of the good of this world….and Islam guides that those who control and restrain their souls from such worldly desires for the Sake and Cause of Allah Subhanah will attain salvation in the Hereafter.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 79 Surah Naziat verses 35-41:

35 The Day when man shall remember (all) that he strove for (The Day of Judgment)

36 And Hell-Fire shall be placed in full view for (all) to see

37 Then for such as had transgressed all bounds

38 And had preferred the life of this world

39 Their abode will be Hell-Fire;

40 And for such as had entertained the fear of standing before their Lord's (Tribunal), and had restrained (their) soul from lower desires

41 Their abode will be the Garden.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan