LESSON OF THE DAY 533

Ayah of the Day:
But then your Lord, to those who have done wrong in ignorance then repented and made amends thereafter--your Lord is Most Forgiving after that, Most Merciful. [16: 119]

Hadith of the Day:
The son of Adam ages, while two things in him grow younger: greed for (more) wealth and greed for (more) life. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:
A dead heart is the one that does not recognize and like the good and that does not reject and repel the evil. [Ibn Mas'ud radi Allah anhu]

Guidance of the Day:
Greed: The heart's obsession with wealth is greed. Greed is the root of all spiritual ailments. It is, therefore, proper to describe it as the mother of all maladies. All mischief and strife are the consequences of this base attribute. It is because of greed that people plunder and usurp the rights of others. The basis of immorality is the lust for bestial pleasure. The root of all blameworthy character traits is this very greed. The foundation of blameworthy character traits is arrogance (kibr), and arrogance is like the craving for fame. Thus, the basis of arrogance too is greed.

If man possesses two valleys filled with gold and silver, he will desire a third. The more the demands of greed are satisfied, the greater will its demands be. The greedy person is like one afflicted by a rash. The more he scratches, the worse the rash becomes. It is not possible for man to fulfill all his desires. It is for this reason that the greedy have no peace of mind. Nothing besides soil (that is, the grave) can satiate his greed. Before a wish is fulfilled, another develops. When one is not contented with destiny, one is smitten by a multitude of desires and hopes whose fulfillment is most difficult. The result of non-fulfillment of desire is frustration and worry. The greedy, inspite of perhaps possessing abundant wealth and enjoying luxury, are perpetually afflicted with frustration.

The Remedy: Reduce expenditure. This will lessen concern with and desire for more earnings. Forget about the future and bear in mind that the greedy are ever loathsome. [The Path to Perfection by Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi]

Food for Thought:
Hardship before comfort is analogous to hunger before food: food comes at a time when it has greater effect on the taste buds. Hardship is as beneficial to the soul as it is unwelcome in one's life.