Ethics

Avidity is a mental vice that the Islamic education has tended to uproot and eradicate. Its source is the excessive engagement in the earthly affairs, the greedily coveting of collecting money and the complete negligence of death. The Prophet (s) referred to this phenomenon by saying, "Had son of Adam had two valleys of riches, he would have wished of obtaining a third. Nothing fills his interior but dust.". "Richness is not the abundance of items. It is the self-contentment.".

The Prophet (s) also warned against the excessive avidity. He said, "O people! Calm down in seeking your livelihood. Man will never obtain more than the decreed, and will never leave this world before receiving the decided.". Imam al-Hassan (a) said, "Avidity is the enemy of mentalities. Adam was expelled from the Paradise because of avidity."

Avidity urges unheedingly on obtaining riches. Man is inconsiderate that earnings and sustenance are in God's hand that He bestows to whomever He desires and prohibits from whomever He desires. Man's excessive endeavors will never change anything of the limited sustenance. Ibn Zureiq the poet assures this meaning. He affirms that God had already distributed the individuals' earnings; hence, it is nonsense to exert excessive efforts for gaining and profiting.

Avidity draws to many sufferings and pitfalls, seduces to strive and work hard, deprives of rest and settlement, and arouses grief and pains. The best way of getting rid of this ill manner is the contentment to God's decree and contemplating that these riches will surely inherited by others. Hence, if the riches are ill-gotten, then the sin will be stuck to the collector while their benefits will be the inheritors'.

Adapted from the book: "The Educational System in Islam" by: "Baqir Sharif Al-Qireshi"