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AVARICE
Arabic
equivalent, “tama” is to ask something strongly,
to expect it and trying to attain it through prohibited
ways. The excessive desires of man, greed has the same meaning.
In the Noble Quran about
avarice it is declared:
“Woe
to every (kind of) scandal-monger and backbiter”
“Who pileth up wealth and layeth it by”
“Thinking that his wealth would make him last
for ever!”
“By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into
that which breaks to pieces.”
“And what will explain to thee That which Breaks
to Pieces?”
“It is) the Fire of (the Wrath of) Allah kindled
(to a blaze)”
”The which doth mount (Right) to the Hearts:”
”It shall be made into a vault over them”
”In columns outstretched.” (Chapter
Humeze, 1-9)
Our Prophet-peace be
upon Him- said: “If the man is given two valleys full
of gold, he would say I wish there would be three valleys
of gold. His greed will be satisfied with nothing but with
death. Again he declared: “How fortunate that person
who is guided to the right way and have enough sustenance
and who is contented with it.”
“Archangel Gabriel
whispered to my heart that none of the born servant die
without consuming his portion appointed by Allah. Be afraid
of Allah Almighty. Ask your needs without appreciating this
world and without rush. That means do not ask more than
required. Be the ones who are the most grateful of crowd.
For others, deem the things proper which you consider proper
for yourselves. Then you become perfect believers.”
Although inclinations
and strong desire is an approved attitude in the case of
attaining knowledge, doing favors and worship, it is evil
when they are felt for the wicked longings of “nefs”-carnal
man”. This situation causes much badness beside its
all baseness. When someone is caught by this disorder he
can not control his senses and can not see the dangers in
future. The stuck of the fishes to fishing line, of birds
and all games falling into trap is a result of greed and
excessive desires.
Prophet Moses -peace
be upon Him- asked “O my Lord, who is the richest
of your born servants?” Allah Almighty declared: The
richest of all my born servants is the one to whom I gave
contentment “
Hadrat Ali-May Allah
be well pleased with him- said: “Avarice is an endless
slavery.” Because the people give themselves up to
this habit became more dependent to others. So they are
compelled to behave like slaves and request something constantly.
He tolerates the evil deeds of the person from whom he expects
something. This is nothing but captivity for a person who
was born free.
An avaricious person
should not be supposed to become rich with this habit. Such
people are always poor with the fear of need and poverty;
they are base and deprived of many things.
What can be said about
the ones whose age reached to seventy or eighty but who
can not free themselves from disorder of avarice. With their
trembling hands these poor people again try to gain wealth
and establish reliable sources of income as if they would
live for a thousand years. Even some of them in spite of
their age commit the evils like lying and being two-faced
for the sake of gain. Finally when the hour of death comes
and he leaves this world his heirs share his dear wealth
and money and they spent them as they will.
Doing the things that
are tolerated by religion but which cause disorders like
haughtiness and self-admiration and which cause to forget
of supererogatory worship and the other world are also considered
as avarice-tama. The opposite of tama is tefviz -handing
over the charge-.
There are five ways
of freeing oneself from avarice and greed:
The first one: As being
careful about the acts and deeds one should cut his own
expenses. He should use his clothes for long time, act with
moderation in eating and drinking and control his nefs.
If he can endure to do these things a person who has avarice
may free himself from this habit. Our Prophet-peace be upon
Him- declared: “ If someone spent moderately he doesn’t
suffer annoyance.” Again he said: “There are
three things in which there is the salvation of man:
1. To be afraid of Allah whether in public or in secret
places.
2. Spending thoughtfully and being moderate both in the
times of wealth and in poverty.
3. Not to exceed limits both in anger and in pleasure.
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The second way: When
there is enough sustenance not to have worldly ambition
by thinking of future and not to spoil one’s own peace
and ease. Whereas Satan whispers to man: “Probably
your lifetime will be long. Tomorrow you may not be able
to attain anything. Work today and gain, never have a rest.
Seek for something wherever it is and do not lose time.”
Allah The Most High
declares:
“The
Evil One threatens you with poverty and bids you to conduct
unseemly. Allah promiseth you His forgiveness and bounties
and Allah careth for all and He knoweth all things.”
(1)
Satan leads man going
a lot of trouble today with the fear of poverty in future.
Then by looking those troubles that he suffered with fear,
he makes fun of him. Because the future and tomorrow never
comes to an end. If it comes, the trouble and pain of it
will be no less than today. The method to save oneself from
this feeling is, the person’s recognition that has
the avarice that gain does not increase with greed. Someday
Our Prophet-peace be upon Him- was passing by near of Ibn-i
Mesud-one of His companions-. He saw Ibn-i Mesud so anxious
and sad. He told him: “Do not give much sorrow to
your heart! What was predestined for you will happen. The
thing that is your lot in life will reach you.” One
should keep in mind that his sustenance may come where he
doesen’t expect. Allah The Most High declared:
“Thus
when they fulfil their term appointed either take them back
on equitable terms or part with them on equitable terms;
and take for witness two persons from among you endued with
justice and establish the evidence (as) before Allah. Such
is the admonition given to him who believes in Allah and
the Last Day. And for those who fear Allah He (ever) prepares
a way out”
”And He provides for him from (sources) he never
could imagine. And if anyone puts his trust in Allah sufficient
is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish His
purpose: verily for all things has Allah appointed a due
proportion.” (2)
The third way: To accept
that not being avaricious, if he shows patience he may suffer
trouble at most but if he has greed he will both suffer
trouble and become base among people and will be punished
severely. If he becomes patient and do not show avarice
he also liked by others and praised. If he becomes greedy
he faces difficulties, disliked among crowd and his feelings
are hurt. Briefly he can not be an appreciated person either
among people or before Allah.
Our Prophet-peace be
upon Him- said: “The dignity of a believer is his
independence from others.” Hadrat Ali said: “If
you need someone then you are his orderly. If someone needs
you that means you are his chief. If you are not dependent
on someone you become equal to him.”
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(1) Chapter Bakara, 2/268.
(2) Chapter Talak, 65/2-3.
The fourth way: To consider
why you are greedy. Think that why you are in the pursuit
of avarice. If it is to eat, drink, satisfy desires of lust,
they are all animal-like desires. To pursuit the ideals
that Prophets and Saints made efforts for and working similar
to their deeds make someone an esteemed person. Obviously
instead of following great ideals, running after simple
desires and aspirations is not proper for a wise person.
The fifth way: Being
cautious about the disasters of having wealth. If someone
has too much wealth its dangers also become great. In the
other world he will go to paradise after the poor ones.
A right minded person feels grateful for his situation by
looking to the poorer ones.
On this subject Our
Prophet declared: “Consider the ones who are in lower
state than you.”
Satan always gives this
inspiration to man: “Why you should be satisfied with
less, that person has this amount of wealth and he lives
as he likes. That savant, that religious person commits
evil behaviors without hesitation. Consider rich people.
Their worship is either non-existent or very little.”
In reality the happiness
is the contrary of it. A Muslim should consider the people
who are high in religion and take them as example. When
you look to the poor ones then you regard yourself as rich
and become relieved.
Abu Hazim says:
“Everything is consisted of two parts. The first
one is my portion and it finds me without fail. The second
one is the share of others. If the creatures both in the
skies and earth come together they can’t bring me
other’s portion. What is the use of someone’s
insisting on asking the things which are not his portion?”
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