 another group renounced money and were content with food and clothing that were inferior and with living in mosques. they thought they had attained the rank of ascetics but they still desired leadership and prestige. asceticism can only be achieved by one of two things either learning preaching or mere asceticism. they abandoned the lesser of two matters and fell into the greatest of destructions for prestige is greater than money. if he had taken money and abandoned prestige he would have been closer to safety. these people were deluded by their belief that they were ascetics in this world and they did not understand how they were deceived and perhaps the rich would have gained precedence over the poor.
وفرقة أخرى زهدت فى المال وقنعت من الطعام واللباس بالدون.. ومن السكن بالمساجد. وظنت أنها أدركت رتبة الزهاد.. وهم مع ذلك راغبون فى الرياسة والجاه.. والزهادة إنما تحصل بأحد أشياء إما بالتعلم أو بالوعظ.. أو بمجرد الزهد.. فلقد تركوا أهون الأمرين.. وباءوا بأعظم المهلكات.. فإن الجاه أعظم من المال.. ولو أخذ المال وترك الجاه.. كان إلى السلامة أقرب.. وهؤلاء مغرورون بظنهم أنهم من الزهاد فى الدنيا.. ولم يفهموا كيف مكر بهم.. وربما تقدم الأغنياء على الفقراء..