Avarice That Turns into Hypocrisy

TEHRAN (IQNA) – A group of people in the Muslim society pledge to give alms and be righteous in case they become rich but they forget their promise as soon as arriving the point they want. Avarice turns individuals into hypocrites. Avarice is rooted in selfishness and this has been described in part of Surah At-Tawbah.

This is according to Hani Chitchian, a member of the Quran and Etrat School of the University of Tehran, speaking in the 18th session in a series on Surah At-Tawbah. Following are excerpts from his remarks in the session:

There are groups in the Islamic society whom the Quran describes as “They swear in the Name of Allah in order to please you. But it is more just that they should please Allah and His Messenger if they are believers.” (Surah At-Tawbah, verse 62)

One of the signs of good faith is that the faithful attach importance only to pleasing Allah, not others. The Quran warns these people: “Are they not aware that whosoever opposes Allah and His Messenger shall live forever in the Fire of Gehenna?” (Surah At-Tawbah, verse 63) This approach creates hypocrisy in individuals. The next 12 verses of the surah speak about hypocrites.

Verse 75 of the surah reads: “Some of them have made a covenant with Allah, 'If Allah gives to us of His bounty, we will give charity and be of the righteous’.” They promised to bestow their wealth on the path of Islam but forget their promise. The avarice is rooted in selfishness.

Responding to this breaking of promise, verse 78 of the Surah says: “Did they not know that Allah knows their secret and what they conspire together, and that Allah knows all the unseen?” This shows that there is a slow and gradual process here and that one needs to block them as soon as hearing the first temptations.

“(It is the same) whether or not you beg forgiveness for them. If you beg forgiveness for them seventy times Allah will not forgive them, for they have disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger. Allah does not guide the evildoers.” (Surah At-Tawbah, verse 80)

The next verse brings a conclusion: “Those who were left behind were glad that they were left behind by the Messenger of Allah, for they disliked to struggle in the Way of Allah with their wealth and their persons. They said: 'Do not go forth in the heat. ' Say: 'The Fire of Gehenna is more hot! ' Would that they understood!”

These people gradually distance themselves from jihad. “So shall they be recompensed for their earnings.” (Surah At-Tawbah, verse 82)