What is the Cure for Extreme Greed

Summary: • extreme greed with no contentment, no satisfaction and no shukr to Allah. It is a blameworthy desire. • Dedicating most of our time and effort to our work and / or comparing ourselves to others is a result of avid greed. • It is a state of our heart and mind and can be never-ending. • Opposite is contentment: Qan’at. • How to achieve qana’t; o Moderation in spending (which is half of our livelihood - Hadith). o Sustenance is decreed ACCORDING TO OUR EFFORTS AND HARD WORK. o Realise the honour in being self-sufficient as opposed to degrading and humiliating ourselves to achieve our desires. o Reflect on the lives of the Prophets. o Give shukr to Allah. o Be happy with what we have. o Be realistic and identify those things that are beneficial, and those things that are harmful. • Greed is a form of psychological slavery; it overcomes us, and we become a slave to it. • Contentment brings dignity and true freedom. • Satisfaction is when we do things purely for Allah. • There will always be someone (including a family) who condemn people who are content because those who are content do not conform with society’s expectations. • Comparing ourselves to others will bring chronic stress and depression. • Powerful reminder - Surah Taha [20:131]. However, when it comes to religious practice and piety, we should look at people who are above us to inspire and motivate us to do better for the Hereafter.