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The Effects of Greed in Nahj al-Balagha The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief The Effects of Greed in Nahj al-Balagha 2026-01-15 52 Views Piety , Imam Ali' Letters , Humanity , sermon 194 One of the diseases of the heart is greed. Greed weaves itself so deeply into a person’s being that it affects even the darkest corners of one’s character.

If greed and covetousness are left unchecked, they seize control over the self; and if a person hands over the reins of his soul to worldly desires, he will drive himself toward the abyss of destruction. Contents 1. Praiseworthy Greed 2. Blameworthy Greed Consequences of Blameworthy Greed 1. The Loss of Piety 2. The Corruption of Humanity 3. Humiliation 4.

Insult to the Self The Hidden Greed of Hypocrites The Struggle Between Reason and Greed Avoid Handing the Reins of the Soul to Greed The Arabic word “tama’” (greed or covetousness) literally means the inclination and attraction of the soul, driven by lust and desire, toward something it yearns for. [1] Based on this meaning, greed can be of two kinds: 1.

Praiseworthy Greed There are many examples of praiseworthy greed: greed for goodness, greed for nearness to God, greed for righteous deeds, and greed for God’s mercy and forgiveness. As Imam Sajjad (AS) says in Dua Abu Hamzah al-Thumali: “When I look upon my sins, my Master, I am filled with fear and distress; but when I behold Your generosity, I am filled with hope and desire” .

[2] Even the longing for Paradise can be considered a praiseworthy form of greed, although the intimate friends of God (awliya) do not even desire Paradise for its own sake. Imam Ali (AS) says in a supplication to his Lord: “My Lord, I do not worship You out of fear of Your Fire, nor out of greed for Your Paradise; rather, I found You worthy of worship, so I worshiped You” .

[3] The absence of greed for Paradise in Imam Ali (AS) is completely natural, for he had reached such closeness to God that the reward of Paradise appeared insignificant in comparison. 2. Blameworthy Greed Blameworthy greed, on the other hand, is that specific kind of greed which people describe as “vain” or “foolish desire”. It is the type of greed condemned as an evil and disgraceful trait. [4] Imam Ali (AS) says: “There is no trait more base than greed” .

[5] Consequences of Blameworthy Greed Among the sayings of Imam Ali (AS), several point to the harmful consequences of greed. A few of these effects are mentioned below: 1.