One of the best ways that the Quran offers for purifying the heart is avoiding heedlessness. For example, the Quran describes the world as a game: “The life of this world is nothing but play and diversion” [1]. From combining these two principles, it follows that the success of attaining purity of soul and spiritual purification, and then journeying towards Allah, is not granted to those who are heedless and drowned in the world.
The Quran describes the world as a plaything, and the sayings of the infallibles (peace be upon them) also mention that the world is a distraction, with Satan and the lower self striving to divert people to it. If someone becomes engrossed in the glitters, titles, and worldly positions, these titles will play with them, making them laugh and cry, causing them to become angry or satisfied.
Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (peace be upon him) says to Hisham ibn Hakam, one of his special companions:
“The example of this world is like salty water. The more a thirsty person drinks from it, the thirstier he becomes, until it kills him.”[2]
When a thirsty person drinks pure and refreshing water, he controls it, absorbs it, and digests it. But if a person drinks salty water, he becomes trapped by it, as the salty water takes control of his digestive system and increases his thirst. He will be forced to drink more water, but if it is salty, his thirst will grow even more.
A person addicted to the world is never satisfied; the more they enjoy from it, the more it opens the doors to greed and desire. Whoever wishes not to be enslaved by the thirst of the world must fight this insatiable greed. The most significant and greatest obstacle to human progress and the journey towards Allah is attachment to the world. Until this obstacle is removed, the sun of spiritual perfection will not shine on a person. The Quran briefly mentions some virtues but repeatedly reminds people to avoid the world, as all the dangers that befall humans stem from attachment to the world. Therefore, the infallibles (peace be upon them) have emphasized caution about this “world,” and in the words of Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (peace be upon him), it is likened to salty water, and a warning has been issued against it.
(Adapted from Tafseer Mawdhooi Qur’an by Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, Volume 11, Stages of Ethics in the Qur’an)
Footnotes:
[1] Quran, Surah Muhammad, 47:36
[2] Tuhaf al-‘Uqool, p. 417; Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 1, p. 152