Zahid
Definition
A zahid is one who has genuinely embodied zuhd — not as a performance or a temporary practice, but as a stable character trait in which the heart is free from the pull of worldly desires. Al-Ghazali notes that the zahid may be found in the palace as readily as the desert, since what defines them is not their material condition but their interior freedom. True zahids are rare precisely because zuhd is so easily counterfeited: it is simple to appear austere while remaining inwardly greedy, and it is equally possible to appear comfortable while remaining inwardly free. Al-Ghazali urges his reader to look at their own heart — does the thought of losing their wealth cause inner distress? That distress is the measure of how far they are from zuhd.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
Appears in
1 book in the library
Hear the term in context.
Every book above uses Zahid the way the classical scholars meant it. Listen with the full Study Kit in the app.