How Greed Humiliates Humanity
Having an insatiable hunger (greed) for the embellishments, wealth, and status of this worldly life is the most prevalent disease that paralyzes a person’s spiritual health. The individual who succumbs to their greed does not distinguish between halal and haram, transgresses upon the rights of others, and submits to oppressors. Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) sharply criticizes this unending appetite: “Those who are consumed by greed to collect the world display ostentation.” Running after worldly possessions with greed enslaves a person spiritually, making them a servant to creation. If a person’s eyes are never satisfied, even all their wealth will feel insufficient and they will live in an eternal psychology of poverty.
The Limitless Wealth of Contentment
True wealth is not measured by the gold carried in one’s pocket, but by the feeling of contentment (contentment) in the heart. In Islamic morality, austerity and contentment mean providing only what is necessary and having no desire for more. Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him), who says, “Contentment is a treasure that never diminishes… Teach your children contentment. Make them content with what they have,” expresses that true freedom lies in this spiritual satisfaction. A believer who is grateful for the halal sustenance he has and does not envy what others possess is the richest and most peaceful person in the universe.
The Path to Freedom from Greed: Reflection on Death
The most effective remedy for curbing greed is remembering that this world is transient and death awaits at every moment (reflection on death). The reality that no wealth accumulated in the world will follow a person into the grave extinguishes this egoistic fire within the heart. A servant who earns what they need through legitimate means, attaches their heart not to possessions but to Allah, the Sustainer, escapes the sorrows of this temporary world. A Sufi devoted to contentment does not compromise his honor or sell his faith while seeking sustenance and thus attains absolute happiness in both worlds.