Imam Ghazali’s book, Kitaab Al-Arba’in Fi Usul ad-Din, ‘The Forty Principles of the Religion,’ which he wrote before his death, is a summary of Ihya Ulumuddin, and his life’s works and thoughts.

In his chapters on the purification of the heart, Ghazali mentions 10 principles. Love of dunya is the seventh principle.

Love of status is connected to love of dunya. It is a saying (not a hadith) that the essence of all sins is the love of dunya.

Ghazali says love of dunya is not just about wealth and status, as they are two of the many branches of dunya. Allah subjugated the earth for us to use. If we did not love the dunya and have desire, we would not survive as a species, as we would not eat or reproduce. However there is more to our existence than eating, drinking and enjoying ourselves. It is part of our test to be attracted to the dunya.