How can the Hadith, "What have I to do with this world? I am in this world but as a rider who rests for a while under the shade of a tree, then goes off and leaves it," be reconciled with the command to cultivate the earth and for Muslims to progress in all fields?

The texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah affirm that the purpose of human creation is to achieve servitude to Allah alone, and everything in life is a means to that end. A Muslim should not work for the worldly life and its pleasures, and should beware of attachment to it, adopting an ascetic attitude towards its enjoyments, but without wasting money. Rather, money should be in the hands of the righteous to spend it in obedience to Allah and for the development of the earth. There is no contradiction between asceticism and money if it is used in obedience to Allah. As for the verse, "And do not forget your share of the world" (Qur’an 28:77), it is interpreted as not wasting one's life in anything other than righteous deeds, or not neglecting one's portion of the world by enjoying what is lawful without extravagance. The hadith "What do I have to do with the world?" is understood in light of the commanded asceticism, which is abandoning what is not beneficial for the Hereafter. The summary of the matter is that a servant should consider their money: from where they acquired it, and in what they spent it, and that they should use it to obey their Lord and for the well-being of their Hereafter.