Apparent Existence, Void at Heart – Greed
Among the most reprehensible traits that darken a person’s heart in Islamic ethics, leading them to transgression, disgrace, and violation of others’ rights, is “tamah” (avarice, greed). Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Geylani (q.s.) elucidates the meaninglessness and spiritual bankruptcy of avarice with immense linguistic wisdom through the structure of Arabic words: “The letters in the word Ta-me-a (طمع) are empty. Taa is empty. Meem is empty. Ayn is empty. Thus, the actions of an avaricious person are also like that; they are empty.” No matter how much wealth a greedy person accumulates or what positions they attain, their inner world will always be a vast “void” because they lack genuine contentment and peace. Avarice is like pouring water into a leaky bucket that can never be filled.
The Immutable Truth of Provision (Rizk)
The greatest fallacy of an avaricious person is to believe that by striving and displaying greed, they can obtain more than what has been decreed for them. However, in the belief of divine decree (qadar), every individual’s provision has been predetermined from eternity. Greed does not increase one’s provision; it only damages a person’s honor, morality, and faith while seeking it. Al-Geylani (q.s.) expresses how contentment rescues people from ostentation and deceit by saying, “He who is not consumed by greed, who restrains his worldly ambitions… does not succumb to showiness. He displays what he has within.” Those with contentment give due value to what they possess and do not covet the provision of others.
The Only Thing That Will Fill the Void: Istighna
The opposite of avarice is “istiğna,” which means finding sufficiency in Allah and being content with what people have. Those empty letters in the heart (taa, meem, ayn) can only be filled with the lights of trust in Allah (tawakkul) and renunciation (zuhd). When humankind abandons avarice and attains the awareness that “The Giver and the Taker are both Allah,” that infinite feeling of hunger within them miraculously gives way to tranquility and absolute contentment. Those who learn to suffice themselves are the eternal wealthy ones of the earth.