Download PDF: Riyaadus Saaliheen – Hadith #23 (Greed for Wealth)
Desire for (immense) wealth!
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسِِ رَضِیَ اللہُ عَنْہُمَاأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللہِ صَلَّی اللہِ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ:لَوْ أَنَّ لِابْنِ آدَمَ وَادِیاً مِنْ ذَہَبٍ أحَبَّ أَنْ یَّکُونَ لَہُ وَادِیانِ، وَلَنْ یَمْلَا فَاہُ إِلاَّ التُّرَابُ، وَیَتُوْبُ اللہُ عَلٰی مَنْ تَابَ۔ مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَیْہِ۔
(بخاری، کتاب الرقاق، باب ما یتقی من فتنۃ المال …الخ، ۴/ ۲۲۹، حدیث: ۶۴۳۹-۶۴۳۷)(مسلم، کتاب الزکاۃ، باب لو ان لابن ادم، ص۵۲۲، حدیث:۱۰۴۹)
Hadrat Sayyiduna ibn Abbas Radi Allahu ‘Anhu narrates that the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam has declared that:
“If the children of Adam possess a valley of gold, (still), he would wish that he has two valleys. And his mouth would never be filled except with sand. And whosoever makes Taubah to Allah azza wa jall, his Taubah would be accepted.” (Bukhari; Muslim Shareef)
The desire and greed of a human never ceases!
Allama ibn Battaal Alayhir Rahmah explains that, “In this hadith Shareef, the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam describes the desire and greed of people which has no end and there seems to be nothing with which he is content with. The indication of sand signifies that when a person finally dies and the sand of the grave fills his stomach, he will come to realize that now his desires can never be fulfilled”.
This Hadith Shareef indicates to wordily wealth, and the greed and desire which people have for it. This is the reason that the great Saints have condemned this and have only used what they required. In other words, what was required for that period is what they used. (Sharah ibn Battaal)
The word used is “He-ris”. This signifies that desire or greed for a certain thing which a person can never seem to have enough of. In other words, a person is always greedy and desirous for more and more. (Miraatul Manaajih)
Desire can be for anything!
It is sometimes commonly thought that desire or greed is only for money and wealth, but this is incorrect. It can be the desire for anything which one continues to ask for and wish for. Obviously a person who needs more wealth would be considered as someone desirous and greedy for wealth, the same with money, influence, etc. In like manner, a person can also be desirous that his good deeds increase or a person could deliberately be desirous of his sins and transgression become more and more. Allama Abdul Mustafa Azami Alayhir Rahmah explains that, “Desire and greed can be sometimes be for food, clothing, houses, property, wealth, respect, becoming famous or well-known, etc.” (Jannati Zewar)
Taubah made for the removal of excessive desire and greed is also accepted!
Allama ibn Hajr Asqalani Alayhir Rahmah explains, “As Allah azza wa jall accepts the Taubah for all other sins, in like manner, He also accepts the Taubah which one makes for having desire of excessive worldly wealth. In the Hadith Shareef, condemnation has also been given to people who amass their wealth, who seem to have continued desire for wealth and riches and who always seem greedy to have more wealth.”
Allamah Teebi Alayhir Rahmah explains, “Perhaps in this, there is indication that people by nature are always desirous of more wealth and their stomachs never seem to get full except those whom Allah azza wa jall has saved. Such people are also very few.” (Fathul Bari)
Man by nature is a miser and always desirous of more money!
Allamah Mulla Ali Qari Alayhir Rahmah explains that, “This Hadith Shareef also indicates to us that there is a miserly instinct in a human which makes him greedy. This is clearly indicated in the following Qur’anic verse.
In Surah Bani Israel, verse 100, Allah azza wa jall declares:
قُلْ لَّوْ اَنْتُمْ تَمْلِکُوْنَ خَزَآئِنَ رَحْمَۃِ رَبِّیْ اِذًا لَّاَمْسَکْتُمْ خَشْیَۃَ الْاِنْفَاقِ وَکَانَ الْاِنْسانُ قَتُوْرًا
“(O Muhammad), say to them, “Had the treasures of your Lord’s blessings been in your possession, you would have held them back lest they should be spent up. Indeed man is very miserly.”
“This Qur’anic verse clearly indicates the miserly behaviour of Bani Adam and mankind in general. As a matter of fact mankind is more greedy than even that bird that stops at a river bank and refuses to drink fearing that by drinking this water, she might finish the water or that worm which consumes sand and stops eating sand and then dies, fearing that by eating this sand, she might finish the sand.” (Mirqaatul Mafaatih)
Continued desire for more and more wealth is also an inner sickness!
Without doubt, the desire and greed to have more and more wealth and riches is also a major internal sickness and disease. At the same time, it is also a disease which requires a cure. The Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam has declared that, “Very soon, the despicable disease which plagued previous Ummah will also arrive upon my Ummah. It will be pride (self-conceit), greed for more and more wealth, and envy in wordily matters until they become a (nation) which is jealous of one another, possess hatred for one another, enmity for one another and then finally rebel (against Allah azza wa jall).” (Mustadrak – Haakim)
How can we protect ourselves against this greed for more and more wealth?
- Continue to make Du’a for protection against the evil of greed and evil desires.
- Try your level best to control your carnal desires or Nafs.
- Spend in a controlled manner, not being miserly or too excessive.
- Trust in Allah azza wa jall all the time.
- Refrain from having prolonged hopes and desires.
- Remember death all the time.
- Always remember the manner in which the rich would have to account for every cent on the Day of Judgement.
- Try to become more generous.
- Have patience and perseverance in all your deeds.
- Ponder on the dangers of having excessive wealth and riches.
- Remember the ultimate punishment of those who lived in this world, who had immense greed for wealth and money and that finally what happened to them.
The world is lessor than the wing of a mosquito!
Hadrat Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’ad Radi Allahu ‘Anhu narrates that the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam has declared that, “If with Allah azza wa jall the world was even equal to the wing of a mosquito, He would have never given a disbeliever even one drop of water.” (Tirmidi Shareef)
The weeping of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddique Radi Allahu ‘Anhu
Hadrat Sayyiduna Zaid bin Arqam Radi Allahu ‘Anhu narrates:
“Once I was once sitting in the blessed company of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Radi Allahu ‘Anhu when he asked for water. A cup was given to him in which honey was also added to the water. He brought it towards his mouth and then moved it aside and then began to weep. All those present also began to weep. The companions then stopped and he continued to weep. He then wiped his face with his shawl and continued to weep until he could not speak further. He then wiped his eyes.
“The blessed companions inquired from him, ‘O Caliph of the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam! What has made you weep so much?’
“He replied, ‘One day, I was sitting in the blessed company of the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam when I noticed that he was moving something away with his hands. However, I could see nothing. I then asked, ‘O Prophet of Allah! What is it that you were moving away, I saw nothing.’
“He Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam replied, ‘This is the Dunya, (the world) which wishes to come near me and I said to it to distance itself from me. It then replied, ‘If you have left me, what will happen after you when such people will appear who will not leave me.’
“Ameerul Mo’mineen, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Radi Allahu ‘Anhu then remarked, ‘I have immense fear that I do not stretch out my hand towards it.’” (Shuhubul Imaan)
The reality of the Dunya!
Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah Radi Allahu ‘Anhu narrates:
“One day the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said to me, ‘Shall I not show you the reality of this world and what is in it?’
“The Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam then took my hand and continued to lead me to a dump site. At that place, at that moment, there was a skull laying on one side, the mess of people, old and torn clothes and many pieces of bones. He then said to me, ‘O Abu Hurayrah! This skull which you see, this is also someone like you people who had many desires and many hopes and today, only the bones have remained. And these bones also very soon will crumble and become sand. And this mess (of people) that you see is also those different types of food which the person used to acquire with great effort. But today, people stay away from it (because of its foul smell). These torn and tattered clothes used to be stylish clothes but today, the wind throws it from side to side. These bones are the bones of those animals which these people used to ride travelling around the world. This is the reality of the world. Those who can weep about the world, should weep. Thereafter, we also weep.’” (Ihya ul Uloom)
The reward of staying away from the world!
Hadrat Sayyiduna Hasan Radi Allahu ‘Anhu narrates that once the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam came outside and then declared to the companions, “Do you people wish that someone acquires knowledge without anyone teaching him, someone achieves guidance without a guide, do any of you wish that Allah azza wa jall removes the blindness of a person and gives him clear vision? Then remember! Whosoever chooses no interest in the world and does not have long desires and hopes, then Allah azza wa jall would give him knowledge without him having been taught (that knowledge).” (Shuhubul Imaan)
Abundance of wealth creates enemies!
The Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam has declared to the blessed companions, “By Allah! I do not fear that you will become poor. I fear that the world, (and its wealth) does not become expansive to you as it became for others before you. You then become attached to it as previous people did and it would destroy you as it destroyed others (before you).” (Bukhari Shareef)
Six qualities of a person who recognizes the Creator
A wise man once advised that there were six qualities in a person who truly believed in the existence of the Creator.
- When he remembers Allah azza wa jall, he becomes joyous and overwhelmed.
- When someone speaks about him, he thinks nothing of himself.
- He gains a lesson from looking at the Divine Signs of Allah azza wa jall.
- When he performs a shameful act, he becomes embarrassed.
- When he hears about the Divine Mercy of Allah azza wa jall, he becomes joyous.
- When he remembers his own sins and transgressions, he begins to make Taubah and Istighfaar. (Tambeehul Ghaafileen)
Important points to bear in mind
- To have consistent greed for wealth is an evil habit and this would only end when a person dies.
- Death will finally end all desires, greed and long types of hope, therefore, it is wiser that instead of having these types of habits, we constantly remember death in all our activities.
- Love and desire for this world is the root of all evil. We see that it does not even equal the wing of a mosquito in the Divine Vision of Allah azza wa jall, hence, we should be intelligent in our daily lives and always have this thought at the back of our mind.
- A person who sincerely makes Taubah, his Taubah is always accepted.
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Riyaadus Saaliheen – Hadith #23 (Greed for Wealth)
Download PDF: Riyaadus Saaliheen – Hadith #23 (Greed for Wealth)
Desire for (immense) wealth!
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسِِ رَضِیَ اللہُ عَنْہُمَاأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللہِ صَلَّی اللہِ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ:لَوْ أَنَّ لِابْنِ آدَمَ وَادِیاً مِنْ ذَہَبٍ أحَبَّ أَنْ یَّکُونَ لَہُ وَادِیانِ، وَلَنْ یَمْلَا فَاہُ إِلاَّ التُّرَابُ، وَیَتُوْبُ اللہُ عَلٰی مَنْ تَابَ۔ مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَیْہِ۔
(بخاری، کتاب الرقاق، باب ما یتقی من فتنۃ المال …الخ، ۴/ ۲۲۹، حدیث: ۶۴۳۹-۶۴۳۷)(مسلم، کتاب الزکاۃ، باب لو ان لابن ادم، ص۵۲۲، حدیث:۱۰۴۹)
Hadrat Sayyiduna ibn Abbas Radi Allahu ‘Anhu narrates that the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam has declared that:
“If the children of Adam possess a valley of gold, (still), he would wish that he has two valleys. And his mouth would never be filled except with sand. And whosoever makes Taubah to Allah azza wa jall, his Taubah would be accepted.” (Bukhari; Muslim Shareef)
The desire and greed of a human never ceases!
Allama ibn Battaal Alayhir Rahmah explains that, “In this hadith Shareef, the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam describes the desire and greed of people which has no end and there seems to be nothing with which he is content with. The indication of sand signifies that when a person finally dies and the sand of the grave fills his stomach, he will come to realize that now his desires can never be fulfilled”.
This Hadith Shareef indicates to wordily wealth, and the greed and desire which people have for it. This is the reason that the great Saints have condemned this and have only used what they required. In other words, what was required for that period is what they used. (Sharah ibn Battaal)
The word used is “He-ris”. This signifies that desire or greed for a certain thing which a person can never seem to have enough of. In other words, a person is always greedy and desirous for more and more. (Miraatul Manaajih)
Desire can be for anything!
It is sometimes commonly thought that desire or greed is only for money and wealth, but this is incorrect. It can be the desire for anything which one continues to ask for and wish for. Obviously a person who needs more wealth would be considered as someone desirous and greedy for wealth, the same with money, influence, etc. In like manner, a person can also be desirous that his good deeds increase or a person could deliberately be desirous of his sins and transgression become more and more. Allama Abdul Mustafa Azami Alayhir Rahmah explains that, “Desire and greed can be sometimes be for food, clothing, houses, property, wealth, respect, becoming famous or well-known, etc.” (Jannati Zewar)
Taubah made for the removal of excessive desire and greed is also accepted!
Allama ibn Hajr Asqalani Alayhir Rahmah explains, “As Allah azza wa jall accepts the Taubah for all other sins, in like manner, He also accepts the Taubah which one makes for having desire of excessive worldly wealth. In the Hadith Shareef, condemnation has also been given to people who amass their wealth, who seem to have continued desire for wealth and riches and who always seem greedy to have more wealth.”
Allamah Teebi Alayhir Rahmah explains, “Perhaps in this, there is indication that people by nature are always desirous of more wealth and their stomachs never seem to get full except those whom Allah azza wa jall has saved. Such people are also very few.” (Fathul Bari)
Man by nature is a miser and always desirous of more money!
Allamah Mulla Ali Qari Alayhir Rahmah explains that, “This Hadith Shareef also indicates to us that there is a miserly instinct in a human which makes him greedy. This is clearly indicated in the following Qur’anic verse.
In Surah Bani Israel, verse 100, Allah azza wa jall declares:
قُلْ لَّوْ اَنْتُمْ تَمْلِکُوْنَ خَزَآئِنَ رَحْمَۃِ رَبِّیْ اِذًا لَّاَمْسَکْتُمْ خَشْیَۃَ الْاِنْفَاقِ وَکَانَ الْاِنْسانُ قَتُوْرًا
“(O Muhammad), say to them, “Had the treasures of your Lord’s blessings been in your possession, you would have held them back lest they should be spent up. Indeed man is very miserly.”
“This Qur’anic verse clearly indicates the miserly behaviour of Bani Adam and mankind in general. As a matter of fact mankind is more greedy than even that bird that stops at a river bank and refuses to drink fearing that by drinking this water, she might finish the water or that worm which consumes sand and stops eating sand and then dies, fearing that by eating this sand, she might finish the sand.” (Mirqaatul Mafaatih)
Continued desire for more and more wealth is also an inner sickness!
Without doubt, the desire and greed to have more and more wealth and riches is also a major internal sickness and disease. At the same time, it is also a disease which requires a cure. The Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam has declared that, “Very soon, the despicable disease which plagued previous Ummah will also arrive upon my Ummah. It will be pride (self-conceit), greed for more and more wealth, and envy in wordily matters until they become a (nation) which is jealous of one another, possess hatred for one another, enmity for one another and then finally rebel (against Allah azza wa jall).” (Mustadrak – Haakim)
How can we protect ourselves against this greed for more and more wealth?
The world is lessor than the wing of a mosquito!
Hadrat Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’ad Radi Allahu ‘Anhu narrates that the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam has declared that, “If with Allah azza wa jall the world was even equal to the wing of a mosquito, He would have never given a disbeliever even one drop of water.” (Tirmidi Shareef)
The weeping of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddique Radi Allahu ‘Anhu
Hadrat Sayyiduna Zaid bin Arqam Radi Allahu ‘Anhu narrates:
“Once I was once sitting in the blessed company of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Radi Allahu ‘Anhu when he asked for water. A cup was given to him in which honey was also added to the water. He brought it towards his mouth and then moved it aside and then began to weep. All those present also began to weep. The companions then stopped and he continued to weep. He then wiped his face with his shawl and continued to weep until he could not speak further. He then wiped his eyes.
“The blessed companions inquired from him, ‘O Caliph of the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam! What has made you weep so much?’
“He replied, ‘One day, I was sitting in the blessed company of the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam when I noticed that he was moving something away with his hands. However, I could see nothing. I then asked, ‘O Prophet of Allah! What is it that you were moving away, I saw nothing.’
“He Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam replied, ‘This is the Dunya, (the world) which wishes to come near me and I said to it to distance itself from me. It then replied, ‘If you have left me, what will happen after you when such people will appear who will not leave me.’
“Ameerul Mo’mineen, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Radi Allahu ‘Anhu then remarked, ‘I have immense fear that I do not stretch out my hand towards it.’” (Shuhubul Imaan)
The reality of the Dunya!
Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah Radi Allahu ‘Anhu narrates:
“One day the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam said to me, ‘Shall I not show you the reality of this world and what is in it?’
“The Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam then took my hand and continued to lead me to a dump site. At that place, at that moment, there was a skull laying on one side, the mess of people, old and torn clothes and many pieces of bones. He then said to me, ‘O Abu Hurayrah! This skull which you see, this is also someone like you people who had many desires and many hopes and today, only the bones have remained. And these bones also very soon will crumble and become sand. And this mess (of people) that you see is also those different types of food which the person used to acquire with great effort. But today, people stay away from it (because of its foul smell). These torn and tattered clothes used to be stylish clothes but today, the wind throws it from side to side. These bones are the bones of those animals which these people used to ride travelling around the world. This is the reality of the world. Those who can weep about the world, should weep. Thereafter, we also weep.’” (Ihya ul Uloom)
The reward of staying away from the world!
Hadrat Sayyiduna Hasan Radi Allahu ‘Anhu narrates that once the Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam came outside and then declared to the companions, “Do you people wish that someone acquires knowledge without anyone teaching him, someone achieves guidance without a guide, do any of you wish that Allah azza wa jall removes the blindness of a person and gives him clear vision? Then remember! Whosoever chooses no interest in the world and does not have long desires and hopes, then Allah azza wa jall would give him knowledge without him having been taught (that knowledge).” (Shuhubul Imaan)
Abundance of wealth creates enemies!
The Holy Prophet Sallal Laahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam has declared to the blessed companions, “By Allah! I do not fear that you will become poor. I fear that the world, (and its wealth) does not become expansive to you as it became for others before you. You then become attached to it as previous people did and it would destroy you as it destroyed others (before you).” (Bukhari Shareef)
Six qualities of a person who recognizes the Creator
A wise man once advised that there were six qualities in a person who truly believed in the existence of the Creator.
Important points to bear in mind
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Related
musjidulhaq
Hadeeth & Commentary
Greed, Hadeeth, Patience, Sabr, Wealth