Hadith #5180

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

In this profound hadith, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) warns the Muslims against the vileness of two destructive traits: "viciousness of voraciousness" and "greed". He describes these traits as the root of all evil, the plantation of disgrace, the debaser of the soul, and the exhauster of the body.

Let us delve into the meanings of these important words. (الشَّرَهِ) "Voraciousness" refers to an insatiable desire for more, an unquenchable hunger that drives a person to constantly seek material possessions and worldly pleasures. (الطَّمَعِ) "Greed" refers to an intense longing for wealth, power, and control, often at the expense of others.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) warns us to beware of these traits because they have severe consequences. To understand the depth of his warning, let us turn to the Quran for guidance.

Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Humazah (104:1-3):

Woe to every scorner and mocker, who collects wealth and counts it, thinking that his wealth will make him immortal.

This ayah highlights the danger of greed and voraciousness. Those who mock and scorn others, while accumulating wealth and counting it, are deluded into thinking that their wealth will grant them immortality and eternal happiness. However, they fail to realize that their actions are leading them towards destruction and humiliation.

In Surah Al-Isra (17:80), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns:

And say: My Lord! Cause me to come in with a firm incoming and to go out with a firm outgoing. And give me from Thy presence a sustaining Power.

This ayah emphasizes the importance of seeking sustenance from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and relying on Him for our needs. When we become consumed by voraciousness and greed, we lose sight of the fact that it is Allah who provides for us and sustains us. We become slaves to our desires and forget our true purpose in life.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) warns us that these traits are not only destructive for our spiritual well-being but also have physical consequences. Greed and voraciousness exhaust the body, as one becomes engrossed in the pursuit of material possessions and worldly pleasures. This constant striving and chasing after wealth and power takes a toll on our physical health and well-being.

Reflecting on this hadith, we can see its relevance in our lives today. In a world driven by consumerism and the relentless pursuit of wealth, it is easy to fall into the trap of voraciousness and greed. We are bombarded with messages that tell us that happiness and success lie in accumulating more and more.

However, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us that true happiness and contentment can only be found by seeking Allah's pleasure and being grateful for what we have. We should strive to cultivate qualities such as generosity, selflessness, and contentment, which are the antithesis of greed and voraciousness.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) protect us from the vileness of voraciousness and greed, and grant us the wisdom to prioritize our spiritual well-being over worldly desires. May we learn from the teachings of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and strive to embody the qualities of contentment, generosity, and selflessness. Ameen.