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Avarice
and Greed: How to Remedy*
Poverty
is sometimes praiseworthy, especially when the poor person is
contented with what Allah has given him and does not pay attention
to what others possess. Muslim reported on the authority of `Amr ibn
Al-`Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah
(peace and blessings be upon him) said, “He is successful who has
accepted Islam, has been provided with what is sufficient for his
want, and has been made contented by Allah with what He has given
him.”
In
this respect, Abu Hazim said, “Whoever does three things is apt to
have a perfect mind: to know what he really is, to safeguard his own
tongue (from lying, backbiting, and the like), and to be contented
with what Allah has provided him with.”
In
contrast, avarice and greed are blameworthy flaws that the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) forbade, stressing that no one
will get anything except what Allah has written down for him.
It
was said that if someone were to ask Greed who its father is, it
would answer, “Doubting about destinies.” And if someone were to
ask Greed what its profession is, it would reply, “Humiliation
acquisition.”‘ And if someone were to ask Greed what its goal
is, it would say, “Deprivation!”
How
to Remedy Avarice and Greed
The
remedy for avarice and greed has three components: patience,
knowledge, and action. And these three are to be acquired through
five things:
1.One
should deal with one’s livelihood and financial needs economically
and be contented with any available food, drink, clothing, et
cetera. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was reported
to have said, “Economization is half of livelihood.” (Reported
by Ad-Daylami)
2.If
one is provided with sufficient livelihood, one should not worry
about the future; rather, one should be certain that one’s
provision will come to one as Allah has predestined.
3.One
should be aware of the meaning of independence, which is apparent in
being content, and of the meaning of humiliation, which is apparent
in avarice and greed.
4.One
should contemplate about the life of ease that the disbelievers and
the foolish enjoy, then meditate on the conditions of the prophets
and the righteous people and how content and patient they were. This
will encourage one to be content with one’s provision, no matter
how little it is, and not to be seduced by the enjoyment of those
disbelievers and fools.
5.One
should understand the dangerous effects of collecting wealth and
think over the good rewards that the patient poor people receive.
One is also recommended to look at those who are poorer than
oneself. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Look
at those who are below you and do not look at those who are above
you, for this is more becoming that you do not despise Allah’s
favor(s) upon you.” (reported by Muslim)
You
can also read:
* Based on Ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdisi's Mukhtasar
Minhaj Al-Qasidin (Mansourah, Egypt: Dar al-Manarah,
2002)
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