Cheating, Mischief and Greed

The Qur’an says:

 “The cheaters will suffer terribly. These who insist on full measure when they have people measure something for them; but when they have to measure or weigh things for others, they give less than their due.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Mutaffifin, 83:1-3)

The Prophet personally used to give surprise visits, once he found a trader had put dry grains on the wet grains.  Prophet put the hand inside the heap of food grains to check adulteration and noticed that he had done this to cheat buyers. He asked the trader ‘Why did you do this?’ the trader replied it is due to rain. Then Prophet said, “He is not amongst us who cheats others.”

The Qur’an says:

“…Eat and drink that which Allah has given you and do not act corruptly making mischief on the earth.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:60)

Contentment is the key to success and happiness; and greed is just contrary to it. Most of us believe that material wealth would bring us happiness. It can of course buy us comforts, but not the happiness which is internal to our nature and cannot be attained by mad pursuit of material riches. In reality, it is only contentment that ushers us into the realm of happiness with a heart totally at peace with itself and body and soul freed from the clutches of greed. Greed or lust has no end. It grows in geometrical proportions as much as one fulfills it.

The following tradition from Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) throws ample light on the natural instincts of human beings:

“If Adam’s son is given a valley full of gold, he would like to have two valleys, for nothing fills his mouth except dust. And God forgives him who repents to Him.”

Man is ever in the pursuit of wealth and material well-being. Striving for more is inherent to his nature. He is always eyeing opportunities to get rich, enhance his standard of life, add more to his style, and pursuing dreams of owning fast cars, elegant villas in scenic locales. In short, the wish-list of an individual is endless. He leaves no stone unturned to materialize his ambitions and achieve dreams. Such is our preoccupation with the material pursuits that we often forget the morals and ethics of the game. Love for this world, with all its enjoyments, may distract us from seeking the Hereafter.

We should always remember that the main purpose of our existence is to worship God. Our Lord discourages us from the blind pursuit of material well-being and dubs the worldly glamour as a fleeting flash of opulence that will distract us from the main objective of remembrance of God. Here is a Qur’anic verse:

“And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us, but only he (will please Us) who believes, and does righteous deeds; for such (people), there will be a double reward for what they did, and they will reside in the high dwellings (of Paradise), in peace and security.” (Qur’an, Surah Saba', 34:37)