Definition of greed

Greed can be defined as not being content with anything and always wanting more, this person is called greedy. For example, to desire abundant wealth; this passion or desire is called greed, while the person who becomes a victim of this passion, is ‘a greedy person’.

(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 7, pp. 86)

‘Allamah ‘Abdul Mustafa A’zami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has mentioned: Passion for greed is found in food, clothing, residence, goods, money, respect or fame, in short, in every blessing.

(Jannati Zaywar, pp. 111)

Greed, a natural occurrence

Greed is a characteristic that is part of the human nature. Whether it is an infant, a strong young man or a weak old man, a man or woman, a ruler or a subject, a rich man or a poor man, a scholar or an illiterate person, in short, everyone suffers from greed. There is another kind of greed where some people are greedy for good deeds to receive rewards in the Hereafter. Others are greedy for wealth , status, respect and fame. It is stated in Tafseer Khaazin: Greed is an essential part of the heart because it has been created in the very same way.

(Tafseer Khaazin, vol. 1, pp. 437)

Remember! Some of the acts, which are related to greed, are rewardable and some are punishable, whereas some are permissible (Mubah), that is to say, Sawab (reward) is not granted for performing such deeds, nor is there any wrath or displeasure if they are not performed. However, if the same permissible act is performed with good intentions, a person deserves Sawab and if he performs it with bad intentions then he deserves the punishment of Hell.

Types of greed

Greed has basically three types:
1. ‘Hirs-e-Mahmood’ (Good greed): To desire to have abundant wealth so that it can be spent in the path of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ .
2. ‘Hirs-e-Mazmoom’ (Bad greed): To desire to have abundant wealth so that a bad act can be performed such as drinking alcohol etc.
3. ‘Hirs-e-Mubah’ (Permissible greed): To desire to have abundant wealth without any intention, however, if this type of greed has a good intention, it will become a good greed and if it has bad intention then it will become a bad greed.

We should use our greed for those acts that can bring us profits in this world and for the Hereafter. This good quality is found only in greed for doing good deeds, because this greed becomes a cause of a person’s forgiveness and a source of taking him to the high levels of Paradise . This has been persuaded in the Holy Quran:

وَ سَارِ عُوۡۤ ا اِلٰی مَغۡفِرَ ۃٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ وَ جَنَّۃٍ عَرۡ ضُہَا السَّمٰوٰتُ وَ الۡاَرۡضُ ۙ اُعِدَّ تۡ لِلۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: And rush towards forgiveness from your Lord, and towards a Paradise that can hold all the Heavens and the earth in its width - prepared for the pious.

(Part 4, Surah Aal-e-‘Imran, verse 133)

On page 53, volume 2 of Siraat-ul-Jinaan, it has been mentioned in the Tafseer (commentary) of this blessed verse: Hurry towards forgiveness from your Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ and towards Paradise by repenting of sins, performing actions which have been made obligatory by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, acting upon good deeds and by creating sincerity in all our deeds.

Mentioning the virtues of good deeds, The Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has also persuaded us in this regard. The Prophet of Rahmah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: ‘اَحۡرِصۡ عَلٰي مَا يَنۡفَعُكَ وَاسۡتَعِنۡ بِاللّٰهِ وَلَا تَعۡجِزۡ’ Desire that thing which benefits you, beg Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for help and do not be disappointed.

(Sahih Muslim, pp. 1432, Hadees 2664)

Surely, the Shari’ah wants us to have greed for good things and to try to adopt them as well. For example, those who are greedy for wealth make wealthy people their ideal (role models), similarly to increase the passion for good deeds and to gather the courage to bear the difficulties which may arise in this path, we should make our pious saints our ideal . The blessed lives of these great people will become a light for us and we will also become greedy for good deeds. These blessed personalities used to think deeply about making their Hereafter better far more than a worldly person does to make his world better. It can be easily judged by their ways of living, that these holy people were very greedy for good deeds. The states of the worship and spiritual exercises of holy people.

Siddeeq-e-Akbar’s yearning for worship!

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has narrated that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked: Who amongst you is fasting today? Then Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ humbly replied: I am. It was then asked: Who amongst you has attended a funeral today? So he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ humbly replied: I have. It was asked: Who amongst you has given food to Miskeen (poor) today? He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ humbly replied: I have. It was asked: Who amongst you has visited a sick person today? He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ humbly replied: I have. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then said: Anyone who possesses these good qualities, will enter Paradise.

(Sahih Muslim, pp. 513, Hadees 1028)

Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ observed fast, attended a funeral, gave food to a Miskeen and visited a sick person in only one day, and the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave him the good news of Paradise. سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه عَزَّوَجَلَّ! We have learnt that to observe fasts, attend a funeral, give food to a Miskeen and to visit one who is sick are deeds that lead to Paradise.

2. Offered Salah in the state of being wounded

Leader of the believers, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was attacked with a dagger before Fajr Salah, despite being severely wounded, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ offered Salah till the last breath of his life. Sayyiduna Miswer Bin Makhramah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has said: When Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was wounded with a spear, Ibn ‘Abbas and I (رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی عَـنْـهُمَا) went to Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ . A cloth was tied on him. We said: he will only get up quickly for Salah. We humbly said: O leader of the believers! Salah! Having heard this Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ got up and said: By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! The one who misses Salah has no part in Islam. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ then offered Salah in the state of being wounded.

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 8, pp. 579, Hadees 12)

Our saints were always greedy to do good deeds, even at the time of the agony of death they were anxious to perform good deeds. We should have the greed that can bring about benefit in the Hereafter. No matter what difficulties our pious predecessors experienced while performing good deeds, they did not miss any opportunity of performing them. May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ grant us greed to do good deeds, for the sake of His righteous bondmen!

اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِه وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد