Why You Shouldn’t Be Greedy (Hadith No. 1769)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 34, Number 274:

Narrated Jabir (radiallaahu `anhu):

While we were offering the prayer with the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) a caravan carrying food came from Sham. The people looked towards the caravan (and went to it) and only twelve persons remained with the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). So, the Divine Inspiration came; “But when they see some bargain or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it.” (62.11)

The ayah:

﴿وَإِذَا رَأَوْاْ تِجَـرَةً أَوْ لَهْواً انفَضُّواْ إِلَيْهَا وَتَرَكُوكَ قَآئِماً قُلْ مَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ اللَّهْوِ وَمِنَ التِّجَـرَةِ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الرَزِقِينَ ﴾

And when they see some merchandise or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave you standing. Say: “That which Allah has is better than any amusement or merchandise! And Allah is the best of providers. [Al-Jumu`ah: 11]

The Prohibition of leaving the Masjid while the Imam is delivering the Friday Sermon

Allah criticizes what happened during one Friday sermon, when a caravan arrived at Al-Madinah and the people rushed out to the merchandise. Allah said,

﴿وَإِذَا رَأَوْاْ تِجَـرَةً أَوْ لَهْواً انفَضُّواْ إِلَيْهَا وَتَرَكُوكَ قَآئِماً﴾

(And when they see some merchandise or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave you standing.) meaning, on the Minbar, delivering the Khutbah. Several of the Tabi`in said this, such as Abu Al-`Aliyah, Al-Hasan, Zayd bin Aslam and Qatadah. Muqatil bin Hayyan said that the caravan belonged to Dihyah bin Khalifah before he became a Muslim, and there were drums accompanying it.So they rushed to the caravan and left Allah’s Messenger standing on the Minbar. Only a few remained, according to the authentic Hadith that Imam Ahmad recorded that Jabir said, “Once, a caravan arrived at Al-Madinah while Allah’s Messenger was giving a Khutbah. So, the people left, and only twelve men remained ﴿with the Messenger ﴾. Then Allah sent down this Ayah,

﴿وَإِذَا رَأَوْاْ تِجَـرَةً أَوْ لَهْواً انفَضُّواْ إِلَيْهَا﴾

(And when they see some merchandise or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it,)” The Two Sahihs also recorded this Hadith. Allah’s statement,

﴿وَتَرَكُوكَ قَآئِماً﴾

(And leave you standing.) proves that the Imam should deliver the speech on Friday while standing. In his Sahih, Imam Muslim recorded that Jabir bin Samurah said, “(During Jumu`ah,) the Prophet gave two speeches, and he used to sit between them. The Prophet would recite the Qur’an and remind the people (of Allah).” Allah’s statement,

﴿قُلْ مَا عِندَ اللَّهِ﴾

(Say: “That which Allah has…”) means the reward that is with Allah in the Hereafter,

﴿خَيْرٌ مِّنَ اللَّهْوِ وَمِنَ التِّجَـرَةِ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الرَزِقِينَ﴾

(is better than any amusement or merchandise! And Allah is the best of providers.) means, for those who trust in Him and seek His provisions when they are allowed to do so.

[Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

Besides, greed doesn’t do you any good. Allah has already distributed rizq (provision) among His creation. That means it’s already been written what you’ll get, how much you’ll get and when you’ll get it. So wanting more won’t get you more than what you can have.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do anything to earn your rizq, of course. What’s also written is how you’ll get it, if you know what I mean. #Qadr #Asbaab