Chapter 7 - On Blaming the World

Volume 1 43 narrations

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Asceticism 31 Wealth/Materialism 13 Prophet Muhammad 12 Ahl al-Bayt 8 Imam Ali 6 Parables/Examples (Amthal) 6 Greed/Stinginess 5 Prophet Isa (Jesus) 4 Death 3 Supplication 3 Wisdom 2 Trials and Afflictions 2 Gratitude 2 Disbelief/Kufr 2 Heedlessness/Negligence 1 Glorification/Praise (Tasbih) 1 Enemies/Hostility 1 Intercession (Shafa'a) 1 Arrogance/Pride 1 God-consciousness/Piety 1 Envy (Hasad) 1 Light and Darkness (Nur) 1 Spending in God's Path 1 Children of Israel 1 Imam Muhammad al-Baqir 1 Prophet Musa (Moses) 1 Humility 1 Imam Ali al-Ridha 1 Relatives/Kinship 1 Patience 1

In this chapter filtered by Greed/Stinginess

hadith 1556

Imam Sadiq (a.s) quoted on the authority of Imam Baqir (a.s)

The story of a greedy man in this world is similar to the story of a silk worm. The more silk it winds around itself, the harder it will get for it to exit, until it finally dies in grief.”

عن الصادق (عليه السلام) قال

قال الباقر (عليه السلام): مثل الحريص على الدنيا مثل دودة القز كلما ازدادت من القز على نفسها لفا كان أبعد لها من الخروج حتى تموت غما.

hadith 1561

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “There are many who seek this world, but cannot attain it; and there are many who attain this world, but leave it behind. Let not seeking this world hinder you from performing your deeds. Always ask for this world from its Owner and the One who grants it. There were many who where greedy in this world but were knocked down by it. They were so involved with this world that they neglected to work for the Hereafter until their life was finished, and the time for their death approached.”

عنه (عليه السلام) قال

كم من طالب للدنيا لم يدركها، ومدرك لها قد فارقها، فلا يشغلنك طلبها عن عملك، والتمسها من معطيها ومالكها، فكم من حريص على الدنيا قد صرعته واشتغل بما أدرك منها عن عمل آخرته حتى انقضى عمره وأدرك أجله.

hadith 1567

Imam Sajjad (a.s) was asked: “What is the best deed for God?” He answered: “After recognition of God and His Messenger (a.s), no other act is better than hating this world. There are various forms of hating this world, and there are various types of sin. The first sin committed against God was conceit which was committed by Satan when he disobeyed God when he was ordered to bow down to Adam: “He refused and was haughty. He was of those who reject Faith.” [The Holy Quran: Baqara 2:34] The next type of sin is greed which was committed by Adam and Eve (a.s). God told them:“And enjoy (its good things) as ye wish: but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression.” [The Holy Quran: Araf 7:19] But although they did not need the fruit from that tree, they ate it and this greed remained with their offspring until the Resurrection Day. That is why the people (who are all the children of Adam) collect things that they do not need. The next type of sin is jealousy which was first committed by Adam's son when he killed his brother out of jealousy. Several things are derived from jealousy: love for women; love of this world; love to be a boss; love of comfort; love to talk; love for position; and love for wealth. There are seven characteristics all together, and they all share the love for this world. That is why the Prophets and the wise men after recognizing it have all said

“The love for this world is the root of all sins. This world is of two types: the world that is a means of our delivery to the Hereafter, and the damned world.”

سئل زين العابدين (عليه السلام): أي الأعمال أفضل عند الله تعالى؟ قال: ما من عمل بعد معرفة الله تعالى ومعرفة رسوله (صلى الله عليه وآله) أفضل من بغض الدنيا، وإن لذلك لشعبا كثيرة وللمعاصي شعب، فأول ما عصي الله به الكبر وهو معصية إبليس حين ﴿أبى واستكبر وكان من الكافرين﴾. ثم الحرص وهو معصية آدم وحواء - صلوات الله عليهما - حين قال الله تبارك وتعالى: ﴿فكلا من حيث شئتما ولا تقربا هذه الشجرة فتكونا من الظالمين﴾ فأخذا ما لا حاجة بهما إليه، فدخل ذلك على ذريتهما إلى يوم القيامة، وذلك لأن أكثر ما يطلب ابن آدم ما لا حاجة به إليه. ثم الحسد وهو معصية ابن آدم حين حسد أخاه فقتله فتشعب من ذلك حب النساء وحب الدنيا وحب الرئاسة وحب الراحة وحب الكلام وحب العلو وحب الثروة، فصرن سبع خصال، فاجتمعن كلهن في حب الدنيا، فقالت الأنبياء والعلماء بعد معرفة ذلك: حب الدنيا رأس كل خطيئة، والدنيا دنيان: دنيا بلاغ، ودنيا ملعونة.

hadith 1578

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “I am amazed at the one who is stingy both when the world is running in his favor and when it is not. Charity will not affect the world running in your favor and neither will stinginess help when the world is not running in your favor.”

وقال (عليه السلام): عجبت لمن يبخل بالدنيا وهي مقبلة عليه، أو يبخل بها وهي مدبرة عنه، فلا الإنفاق مع الإقبال يضره، ولا الإمساك مع الإدبار ينفعه.

hadith 1588

In Uyun Akhbar al-Reza it is narrated that Imam Reza (a.s) said

“You cannot gather wealth unless you have real stinginess, long aspirations, extensive greed, cutting off from the relations of kin and preferring this world to the Hereafter.”

من عيون الأخبار: قال الرضا (عليه السلام): لا يجتمع المال إلا بخصال خمس، ببخل شديد، وأمل طويل، وحرص غالب، وقطيعة رحم، وإيثار الدنيا على الآخرة.