Worldly attachment blamed for human conflict

By Ahmed Idriss

The real tragedy of human life is not death itself, but excessive attachment to worldly life, a Friday Khutbah at the Gaddafi National Mosque has warned, urging worshippers to rethink what they value most in life. The sermon was delivered by Sheikh Bakhit Cucu, the Secretary for Education at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, who emphasized that many of the struggles, conflicts, and moral failings in society stem from an exaggerated love for worldly possessions.

“The tragedy of this world is not death itself. The real tragedy is our level of attachment to this world,” Sheikh Cucu said, stressing that this attachment distorts priorities and weakens unity among people. He reminded worshippers that death is inevitable for every human being, noting that no one can escape it once its appointed time arrives.

Citing the passing of Sheikh Issa Yiga, the former chairperson of the national mosque, he described it as a reminder of the certainty of departure from this world.

“Allah already told us that death has no guarantee; every soul will die one day. That is not the issue. The issue is how deeply we are attached to this world,” he said.

Sheikh Cucu warned that excessive focus on material gain leads to endless struggle and dissatisfaction, with people competing over wealth, land, and status while forgetting the temporary nature of life. He observed that even accumulated wealth often fails to bring lasting peace, emphasizing that its true value lies only in how it is used for good.

“Even if you gather millions of dollars, it has no real value unless you use it for good and share it,” he said.

He further reminded worshippers that everything material is left behind at death.

“You come into this world with nothing, and you leave with nothing,” he said, describing this as “the biggest loss” for those who live solely for worldly gain. The Khutbah also highlighted how attachment to dunya can erode social values, as people increasingly measure success by accumulation rather than contribution, morality, or unity.

Referencing Islamic teachings, Sheikh Cucu noted that the world has no lasting value in the sight of Allah.

“If the world had any value, it would not even be equal to the wing of a mosquito,” he said, underscoring its insignificance compared to the Hereafter.

He urged worshippers to use the Qur’an as a guiding lens for life, saying it helps correct distorted perceptions of value and purpose. He stressed that true success lies not in what is collected in this world, but in what is sent forward through good deeds.