The Loss of Piety Imam Ali (AS) says: “A little greed corrupts great piety” .

The Loss of Piety Imam Ali (AS) says: “A little greed corrupts great piety” . [6] Even a small amount of greed can destroy abundant piety and self-restraint. 2. The Corruption of Humanity He also says: “Nothing destroys religion like innovation, and nothing corrupts a person like greed” . [7] Greed can ruin both one’s faith and one’s humanity. 3. Humiliation Imam Ali (AS) declares: “The fruit of greed is humiliation in this world and misery in the Hereafter” .

[8] In Nahj al-Balagha, Imam Ali (AS) describes Jesus (AS) as follows: “He had no wife to divert him, no child to grieve him, no wealth to attract him, and no greed to humiliate him” . [9] Thus, greed is a path that leads its possessor to disgrace. 4. Insult to the Self Whoever succumbs to greed does nothing but humiliate his own soul. Imam Ali (AS) says: “He who clothes himself in greed has brought disgrace upon his own soul” .

[10] The Hidden Greed of Hypocrites Speaking about the hypocrites, Imam Ali (AS) says that they oppose every truth with falsehood, counter every clear proof with a doubt, and prepare for every living being a killer and for every door a key. He continues: “They seek to reach their lowly desires by pretending to renounce greed, in order to keep their markets alive and to sell their worthless goods” . [11] The Struggle Between Reason and Greed Greed appears from afar like a beautiful mirage.

The greedy person looks at it, and his eyes are dazzled; his intellect is deceived by its glittering appearance. When he finally opens his eyes, he finds himself sinking in a swamp of ruin and despair, realizing too late that it was greed that led him there. Therefore, one must suppress greed within oneself so that it cannot overpower the intellect or divert it from the right path. Imam Ali (AS) says: “Most of the defeats of reason lie beneath the flashes of greedy desires” .

[12] The lightning of greed dazzles the eyes and blinds the intellect until a person falls. [13] He also says: “No wine destroys the intellect of men more than greed does” . [14] Reason is a powerful force that protects a person from errors and guides him in times of doubt and confusion. Yet, reason does not always succeed in following the straight path, for it encounters obstacles, some of which are strong enough to defeat it. Among the greatest of these obstacles is greed.

Imam Ali (AS) warns those enslaved by their desires: “O captives of worldly desires, stop!