وَ لَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنٰهُ بِهَا وَ لٰكِنَّهٗۤ اَخْلَدَ اِلَى الْاَرْضِ وَ اتَّبَعَ هَوٰىهُۚ-فَمَثَلُهٗ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِۚ-اِنْ تَحْمِلْ عَلَیْهِ یَلْهَثْ اَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ یَلْهَثْؕ-

And had We willed, We would have exalted him because of the signs, but he clung to the (pleasures of this) earth and followed his own desires; his condition therefore is like that of a dog; so, if you attack him, he hangs out his tongue; and if you leave him, he (still) hangs out his tongue;

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 09, Surah Al-A’raaf, Verse 176)

Greed and desires destroyed him

Dear Islamic brothers! The state of Bal’am Bin Ba’oora` has been mentioned here, this individual had reached such levels of virtue and merit that he had the knowledge of the previous scriptures, he had knowledge of the Ism-e-A’zam of Allah Almighty, his supplications were always accepted, he could see the ‘Arsh (throne) from the place where he was sitting, and twelve thousand students would attend his lessons and write down his teachings. (Saawi, Surah Al-A’raaf, under the verse 175, vol. 2, p. 727)

When this individual, who possessed such a high rank of virtue and merit, began to follow his desires and developed a desire for the wealth of the world and its luxuries, and turned his back on the Hereafter and its bounties, everything that was granted to him was taken away from him, his Iman was destroyed, he became unsuccessful and he faced loss in this world and the Hereafter. (Khaazin, Surah Al-A’raaf, under the verse 176, vol. 2, p. 160)

Remember! The greed for wealth and status is extremely harmful for one’s Deen, whereas the wealth attained with good intentions is blessed by Almighty Allah.

Sayyiduna Hakeem Bin Hizaam رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states: The Messenger of Allah