وَ مَنْ یُّوْقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهٖ فَاُولٰٓىٕكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوْنَۚ(۹)

And whosoever is saved from the greed of his own-self, so it is only they who are the successful.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 28, Surah Al-Hashr, Verse 9)

It is stated in Tafseer Siraat-ul-Jinan in the commentary of this verse: We learn from this verse that those whose lower selves (Nafs) have been purified from greed, they are truly successful. We also learn that it is extremely difficult to avoid the habit of greed of the lower self; only the one who is accompanied by the special mercy of Allah Almighty can stay away from this habit. The harm of this habit can be gauged from this blessed Hadith: The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, ‘Avoid committing oppression, because oppression is the darkness of the Day of Judgement, and avoid the greed of the lower self, because this greed has destroyed the nations prior to you, for greed encouraged them to commit unjust killings and Haraam actions.’ (Muslim, p. 1394, Hadith 56 (2578))

The importance of avoiding greed can also be understood from this narration: Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman Bin ‘Awf رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was seen to be only making this supplication whilst performing Tawaf of the Ka’bah, ‘O Allah Almighty! Protect me from the greed of my lower self (Nafs).’ When he was questioned regarding this, he said: ‘When I am protected from the greed of my lower self (Nafs), then I will not commit theft nor will I commit an act of indecency nor anything similar to it.’ (Tafseer Tabari, Surah Al-Hashr, under the verse 9, vol. 12, p. 42)

Dear Islamic brothers! People have various states in terms of greed; some are greedy for wealth, while others are greedy for land and property, some have been blinded by the greed of sins, while others are afflicted by the greed of the desire for fame. Just as there are people who are greedy for such evil acts, there are also people whose hearts are filled with the desire for good deeds, who remain restless