The Evil of Craving for Wealth and Status - Enjoy Islam

The Evil of Craving for Wealth and
Status
All praise is for Allaah, Lord of the worlds. May Allaah send praises and complete
peace until the Day of Recompense upon him, his family and followers and upon all of
his companions.
The Shaikh, the Imaam, the distinguished scholar, Shaikh-ul-Islaam, remainder of the
noble Salaf, Zaynuddeen Abul-Faraj ‘Abdur-Rahmaan, son of the Shaikh and the Imaam
Shihaabuddeen Ahmad, son of the Shaikh and the Imaam – Ibn Rajab al-Baghdaadee, al-
Hanbalee, rahimahullaahu Ta’aala, said:
Imaam Ahmad, an-Nasaa’ee, at-Tirmidhee and Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh report the
hadeeth of Ka’b ibn Maalik al-Ansaaree, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, from the Prophet (salAllahu
‘alayhi wa sallam) that he said: “Two hungry wolves let loose among sheep are not more
harmful then a person craving after wealth and status is to his Deen (Religion).” at-
Tirmidhee said, “It is hasan saheeh.” 2
It is also reported from the Prophet (salAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) from the hadeeth of Ibn
`Umar, Ibn `Abbaas, Aboo Hurairah, Usamaah ibn Zayd, Jaabir, Aboo Sa`eed al-
Khudree and `Aasim ibn `Adiyy al-Ansaree, radiyAllaahu `anhum `ajma`een. 3
We have mentioned them all and spoken about them in the book Sharhut-Tirmidhee
(Explanation of Tirmidhee).
2 It is reported by Ahmad (3/456,460), an-Nasaa’ee in al-Kubraa as occurs in Tuhfatul-Ashraaf of al-Mizzee
(8/316), at-Tirmidhee (no.2376), Ibn Hibbaan (no.2472), Nu`aym ibn Hammaad in his Zawaa’id upon az-
Zuhd (no.181), ad-Daarimee (2/304), at-Tayaalisee (no.2201) and al-Baghawee in Sharhus-Sunnah (14/258)
and its chain of narration (isnaad) is saheeh (authentic) as at-Tirmidhee says.
3 Al-Haithumee quoted most of these narrations in Majma`uz-Zawaa`id (10/250) and determined their
level of authenticity.
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