FRIDAY, JULY 6: Is it really necessary for one to have 20 pairs of shoes; 50 shirts and blouses, 20 pairs of pants, and the beat goes on — and this is only the winter clothes.

In fact, a lot of houses have an enormously large room dedicated to ‘closet’ space.

I guess some people will say that they work hard for what they have and it’s their business what they have and do with their money. And so to an extent it is.

Consumers seem to be driven to believe the more they consume the more successful they ‘appear’ to be. It’s as if over consumption is their lifestyle and their identity – portraying a profile of “I am what I buy”.

There are many who only purchase ‘designer’ names — like wallets costing hundreds of dollars but the ironic part is that often the owner of the wallet never has more than a few dollars in it.

There was a report out that the average person has in their wallet $39 but spends $69. Go figure!

Why is it that everyone wants more than they need? But really now, when all around you is deprived, can you see that maybe a little self-restraint and charity is in order. 

My thought is that over indulgence is as ugly as poverty.

My prayer “O my Lord, grant me the tenacity to accept with gratefulness my portion of proceeds no matter how small — Ameen.”

Greed is killing the world. Greed is largely responsible for the climate change, waste accumulation, and so much more.

The earth’s sustainability is based on our ceasing our greed and accumulation.

It’s like a cake with too much sugar, or a lovely stew with too much salt — it’s not good and is useless.

Too much of anything is disastrous. Balance is the key.

Why is it that there is so much money in the world yet only a few have access to it? Research proves that it would not take too much money to solve the world’s poverty, just the charity of a few rich persons.

Yet there are some who would rather spend their money on installing in their homes toilet bowls made of gold.

There are many people in this world who have more money than they know what to do with, but it does not mean they are happy.

Money does not bring happiness, especially if it is not shared. The Quran says in Chapter 43 verse 32 “Are they the ones who assign your Lord’s mercy? We have assigned their shares in this life, raising some of them above others in ranks, in order to let them serve one another. The mercy from your Lord is far better than any material they may hoard.”

Hoarding is another form of greed. God says in His Noble Quran “Let not those who withhold and hoard God’s provisions think that this is good for them; it is bad for them. For on the Day of Resurrection they will carry their hoardings around their necks. God is the ultimate inheritor of the heavens and the earth. God is fully aware of everything you do.”(3:180)

Surely it is better to share the wealth that God has given us, with those less fortunate, than to keep it hidden away where it benefits no one.

God says in the Quran that those who hoard their wealth and enjoin others in avarice, and hide that which is bestowed upon them of His bounty will face a shameful retribution (4:37).

Allah speaks strongly about greed and hoarding not only to the common people, but to leaders as well “O you who believe, many religious leaders and preachers take the people’s money illicitly, and repel from the path of God. Those who hoard the gold and silver, and do not spend them in the cause of God, promise them a painful retribution.

“The day will come when their gold and silver will be heated in the fire of Hell, and then used to burn their foreheads, their sides, and their backs: “This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you have hoarded.” (9:34- 35). Whoa — what a terrible end indeed.

Allah intended those who have money to help those without. Compassion and sharing is sadly lacking in today’s society.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer however, it all boils down to the fact that it is not what one has in this world that matters, but rather what one (we) are going to get on the Day of Judgement is what we should be thinking and concerned about.

Allah is warning us to get it together in sharing the bounties He alone has bestowed on us, because no amount of shoes, cars, houses, bling-bling or money is going to save us from a severe retribution if greed and hoarding is more important to us than sharing in charity and love to our fellowmen. Ameen.