People practise zuhd for three different reasons...

People practise zuhd for three different reasons: In order to escape the Hellfire. This kind of zuhd is called "zuhd al-Kha'ifin," or the "abstinence of the fearful." In order to gain God's good pleasure and to attain the joys of paradise. This kind of zuhd is called "zuhd al-rajin" or the "abstinence of the hopeful." For obtaining Divine communion. This is the highest aim and the most worthy form of zuhd, practised neither out of fear of hell nor desire for the pleasures of paradise.

Affluence and Opulence It means being in possession of life's necessities and it has many degrees, at times leading, to great amount of wealth and hoarding of riches. The opposite of it is poverty and neediness, which means lack of life's necessities. Both affluence and poverty may either uplift man's character or destroy him.

If affluence is acquired through legitimate means, and the surplus wealth above his needs is spent for the sake of God and in the service of His creatures, it is considered as one of the virtues. If, however, it has been obtained through illegitimate means, through injustice and exploitation, and the affluent person is heedless of the needs of the deprived and the destitute, it will lead to his certain destruction.

The Qur’an says: No indeed; surely man waxes insolent, if he considers himself affluent. (96:6-7) In the same way, poverty too, if accompanied by forbearance, resignation, and contentment leads man to spiritual edification; otherwise, it will also lead him to destruction.

Thus, if we see that in Qur’anic verses and traditions sometimes affluence and poverty are acclaimed and condemned at other times, it is because if these states are accompanied by proper conditions they are desirable, otherwise undesirable and abominable. Greed (Hirs) Greed is a condition which makes man dissatisfied with whatever he possesses and makes him yearn for yet more.

Greed is one of the worst of destructive vices, and is not limited to worldly possession, but also includes indulgence in food, sex and other things The Prophet (S) said: يشيب ابن آدم ونشب فيه خصلتان: الحرص, وطول الأمل. As man grows in age, two of his characteristics become young: greed, and far fetched hopes. Imam Abu Ja'far al-Baqir has said: مثل الحريص على الدنيا كمثل دودة القز, كلما ازدادت على نفسها لفا كان أبعد لها من الخروج, حتى تموت غما.