by Mallam Harun Umar
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad, his noble family, and his righteous companions and those who followed his footsteps till the end of time.
Today, we gather to delve into a topic that has plagued humanity since time immemorial. The topic is GREED. It is a destructive force that can lead to countless evils, from individual suffering to societal collapse. Greed, like a cancer, silently infiltrates our souls, consuming our hearts, and blinding us to the true meaning of life.
THE ROOT OF GREED
The root of greed can be traced back to the very beginning of human history. Adam and Eve, despite being bestowed with the bounties of Paradise, succumbed to the temptation of a forbidden fruit, driven by a desire for more. This act of disobedience, fueled by greed, set in motion a chain of events that led to their expulsion from the Garden.
The Holy Quran warns us about the dangers of greed. In Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah describes the Israelites as a people who were consumed by a relentless pursuit of worldly possessions. They were so obsessed with material wealth that they forgot the ultimate purpose of life.
CAUSES OF GREED
The four factors that usually cause greed are: Psychological factors, social and cultural factors, economic and environmental factors, Philosophical and spiritual factors. These factors are explained in the manifestation of greed as follows.
THE MANIFESTATIONS OF GREED
Greed manifests itself in countless ways. It can be as subtle as hoarding unnecessary possessions or as blatant as exploiting others for personal gain. Some common manifestations of greed include:
MATERIALISM: The excessive pursuit of wealth and material possessions. This is now the order of the day. Little children who are supposed to be studying, learning are pursuing quick reaches. Our children who we have sent to school have left the classrooms because of materialism.
POWER HUNGER: The desire to dominate others and control resources. Everyone wants to be in control. We desire power by all means. We no longer believe that power comes from Allah.
ENVY: Resenting the success and possessions of others. Because of the way people now display their possessions, others now feel inferior.
AVARICE: The insatiable desire for wealth and possessions. Human beings are insatiable. One person owns an estimate of thousands of houses, yet, still struggling for more.
SELFISHNESS: Prioritizing one's own needs and desires above the needs of others. People now pay attention to individualism than collectivism. We no longer think of how the society or other people can benefit. We only thing about ourselves.
THE CORROSIVE EFFECTS OF GREED
Greed can have devastating consequences, both in this world and the Hereafter. It can lead to:
MORAL DECAY: Greed can erode our moral compass, leading us to engage in dishonest and unethical behaviour. It can corrupt our hearts and minds, making us oblivious to the rights of others.
SOCIAL STRIFE: It can sow discord and division among people, as individuals compete for limited resources. Greed can lead to conflict, violence, and even war.
ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION: The insatiable desire for wealth can drive unsustainable practices that harm the planet. Greed can lead to deforestation, pollution, and the depletion of natural resources.
SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY: Greed can hinder our spiritual growth by diverting our attention from the Divine. It can lead to a loss of faith, a decline in moral values, and a neglect of our spiritual duties.
THE ANTIDOTE TO GREED
To combat greed, we must cultivate the following virtues:
GRATITUDE: We should be grateful for the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon us, no matter how small or large. Gratitude is the antidote to greed. It helps us to appreciate what we have and to avoid coveting the possessions of others.
CONTENTMENT: We should be content with what we have and avoid coveting the possessions of others. Contentment is a state of mind that allows us to appreciate the blessings in our lives. In a narration, prophet Muhammad (saw) said, wealth is not about the amount of possession of material things but it is about contentment.
ZAKAT: By giving charity, we can purify our wealth and alleviate the suffering of others. Zakat is a powerful tool for combating greed. It reminds us that our wealth is not solely ours to keep, but rather a trust from Allah that we must share with others. This also guarantees safety and security in the society.
SELF-DISCIPLINE: We must exercise self-control and resist the temptation to indulge in excessive consumption. Self-discipline is essential for overcoming greed. It involves making conscious choices to prioritize our spiritual and moral well-being over material gain. We must not behave like others because, we are not others, we are ourselves. We can only emulate what is good.
FEAR OF ALLAH: The fear of Allah is the ultimate deterrent against greed. By remembering that Allah is watching our every action, we can be more mindful of our behaviour. Fear of Allah can help us to avoid actions that are harmful to ourselves and others.
THE PATH TO SALVATION
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us that true wealth lies not in material possessions but in piety and good deeds. He said, "The best provision is piety."
Let us strive to live a life of simplicity and moderation. Those among us who Allah has bestowed wealth, let us not intimidate others. Let us all prioritize spiritual growth over material gain. By doing so, we can attain true happiness and eternal salvation.
May Allah guide us all to the straight path and protect us from the evils of greed. Ameen.
_Mallam Harun Umar writes from the Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board's Central Mosque Benin City._
