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.