MAY 23

The Harm of Greed

According to Sufyan, Umar ibn Khattab once asked Kaab who the people of enlightenment were. Ka’ab replied that they were men who practised their learning. When Umar asked what caused a diminution of enlightenment in the hearts of scholars, Ka’ab replied that greed was to blame for this. (Mishkat al-Masabih 1/88)

The common man’s greed is confined solely to money – more and more money, primarily to meet all his requirement, but progressively to enable him to lead a luxurious life. Similarly, one who wields celebrity in his own home creates dreams of finding fame and fortune all over the world. The public figure who has thousands of followers will not rest content until his followers number in millions. And so on.

It is feeling of greed which makes a man of knowledge and learning into a pragmatist. In his heart, he may believe in the truth, but what he says in public bears little relation to it. Instead of upholding principles, he opts for expediency. He has one face in private and another face in public. He behaves in this way so that his image is not distorted, his popularity with the public remains undiminished, his interests are not damaged and he maintains his high position in the material world. By resorting to such duplicity, he ensures that his public image will grow constantly in stature. But all this is to be had only at the cost of constant inner erosion.