Meaning of Worldliness in Quran
Some other verses, however, criticize worldliness and the love of the world.
What is the meaning of worldliness according to the Holy Quran?
The Holy Book says the divine blessings in this world are for the believers to use:
“(Muhammad), ask them, ‘Who has made it unlawful to maintain beauty and to eat the pure foods which God has created for His servants? They are made for the believers in this world and are exclusively for them in the life hereafter.’ Thus do We explain Our revelations to the people who have knowledge.” (Verse 32 of Surah Al-Aaraf)
On the other hand, in many verses and Hadiths people have been warned against worldliness.
The Quran’s verses about the world can be divided into three groups:
The first are those that criticize worldliness and the love of the world, describing the world as play and amusement (Verse 36 of Surah Muhammad and Verse 20 of Surah Al-Hadid), trivial (Verse 77 of Surah An-Nisa) and a deceitful possession (Verse 185 of Surah Al Imran).
The second group is the verses that are favorable to the world. While they do not mention the world by name, they refer to blessings in the world such as running waters, various fruits, cattle, vessels, etc. They also describe it with attributes such as good (Verse 180 of Surah Al-Baqarah and Verse 131 of Surah Al-Aaraf), and divine blessing (verse 28 of Surah At-Tawba).
The third group is the verses that clarify the distinction between the two. For example take Verse 7 of Surah Yunus: “Surely those who do not hope in Our meeting and are pleased with this world's life and are content with it, and those who are heedless of Our communications.” According to this verse, the reason why worldliness is criticized is that it causes disbelief in the Resurrection Day and considering life to be only in this world.
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In Verse 26 of Surah Ar-Raad, God refers to the world as “only a temporary means”, which stressed the fact that the world is not an end but just a means for reaching an end.
So it can be said that he world is not bad but good and favorable if it is used for the purpose of perfection and preparing for the hereafter. Imam Ali (AS) said: The world is the means to reach the hereafter (Sermon 156 of Nahj al-Balagha). What the Quran criticizes about the world is attachment to worldly life (Verse 7 of Surah Yunus).
