𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (37)

The Six Benefits of Seclusion (’Uzlah) Abu Bakr Al-Bayhaqi writes in Az-Zuhd Al-Kabeer quoting from Ibn Qudāmah (may Allāh have mercy on them both): "Let us begin by outlining the benefits of seclusion, which are six in number. The first benefit is having time for worship and for building a close, personal connection with Allāh through private prayer and remembrance. This kind of closeness needs calm, space, and freedom inside the heart, which are hard to achieve when you are constantly around people. Seclusion helps make this possible, especially at the beginning. A person who, through constant remembrance, feels close to Allāh, or who gains true knowledge of Him through deep reflection, will find that fully focusing on this is better than everything that comes with social life. The second benefit is that seclusion helps protect a person from sins that commonly arise through mixing with others. These return to main: 1. eople often enjoy talking about others and damaging their reputations. 2. There is the duty to encourage what is right and stop what is wrong. When you mix with people, you almost always see wrongdoing. If you stay silent, you disobey God; if you speak up, you may be harmed. Living in seclusion keeps you safe from this problem. 3. There is showing off, which is a deep and harmful habit that is hard to avoid. Being around people often leads to exaggerated kindness or false behavior, even if it is unintentional. Seclusion protects a person from this danger. 4. Bad qualities like greed can quietly rub off on you from others. This harm is hidden and hard to notice, even for intelligent people. The third benefit of seclusion is being saved from conflict and disputes, and protecting one’s faith from getting caught up in them. Conflict and division exist almost everywhere, but the one who stays away from them remains safe. The fourth benefit is being protected from harm caused by other people. Sometimes they hurt you by gossiping or spreading stories, and sometimes through suspicion or other kinds of harm—even from people you barely know. Living in seclusion frees you from all of this. The fifth benefit is that it ends envy and greed on both sides—other people wanting what you have, and you wanting what they have. You can never fully satisfy people’s desires, but when you withdraw from them, they stop expecting to gain from your time, loyalty, money, or influence. As for your own greed, looking at the attractions of worldly life stirs desire and craving. Most of the time, this only leads to frustration and hardship, not real fulfillment. The sixth benefit is being free from dealing with foolish or bad people and having to put up with their behaviour. When someone is hurt by such people, they often start speaking badly about them. If those people then lie and spread rumors, the person may strike back. This leads to harm in one’s religious and moral life. Living in seclusion helps protect a person from falling into this situation." [End of quote] Source: https://shamela.ws/book/13025/128