Hadith #2105

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

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

مَنِ ادَّرَعَ الحِرْصَ افْتَقَرَ۔

This can be translated as,

One who clothes himself with greed becomes poverty-stricken.

Let us delve into the meaning of this Hadith by examining the key words used. The word (idara'a) "ادَّرَعَ" means to clothe or cover oneself, while (al-hirs) "الحِرْصَ" refers to greed or excessive desire. The word (iftaqara) "افْتَقَرَ" means to become impoverished or destitute.

To understand the significance of this Hadith, we turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us against the destructive nature of greed in several verses. For example, in Surah Al-Isra (17:80), Allah says,

And We have certainly created man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging. Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators.

This verse reminds us of our humble origins and the fact that everything we have is a blessing from Allah. When we become consumed by greed, we lose sight of this reality and become ungrateful for the blessings bestowed upon us. This ingratitude leads to a spiritual poverty that cannot be filled by material wealth.

Another verse that sheds light on the consequences of greed is found in Surah Al-Hashr (59:9), where Allah says,

And [also for] those who were settled in the Home [i.e., Al-Madinah] and [adopted] the faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what the emigrants were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.

This verse highlights the selflessness and generosity of the Ansar (the residents of Medina) towards the Muhajirun (the emigrants from Mecca). Despite their own poverty, the Ansar prioritized the needs of others above their own. This selflessness is a stark contrast to the greed mentioned in the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a reminder that greed leads to spiritual and material poverty. When we are consumed by the desire for more wealth, power, or possessions, we lose sight of our true purpose in life - to worship Allah and serve others. Greed blinds us to the needs of those around us and prevents us from experiencing true contentment and fulfillment.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) possessed immense knowledge and wisdom, and his words carry great weight. Through this Hadith, he emphasizes the importance of cultivating contentment and gratitude in our hearts. By focusing on the blessings we have been given and using them to benefit others, we can avoid the pitfalls of greed and attain true richness in this life and the hereafter.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) warns us against the destructive nature of greed. By clothing ourselves with greed, we become impoverished both spiritually and materially. The Quranic verses mentioned support this exegesis by highlighting the consequences of greed and the importance of selflessness and gratitude. May Allah guide us to overcome our desires and cultivate contentment and generosity in our hearts.