Page 119 - The Debased Culture of Superficiality

Harun Yahya - Adnan Oktar 117

jokes with his friends, but his so-called jokes contain certain
implications that force the other person to buy a gift for him.
Together with this, he constantly mentions that he likes a cer-
tain object and wishes that he had something just like it,
expecting that the others will give him one as a present. In
this way, he is greedy for the smallest things and regards it as
gain if he secures them.
We must remember that there is no direct connection
between superficiality and education, culture, wealth or
poverty. In fact, it is a matter of religious morality and con-
science. Only Muslims who use their conscience, seek Allah’s
favor and look forward to the next life are tranquil and con-
tent. They avoid things contrary to religious morality such as
ambition, greed and exploiting other people, because they do
not look for the transient benefits of the moment, but for the
endless life of Paradise.
The Prophet Muhammad (saas) warned people with faith
against greed in his hadiths. He says, “Do not be avaricious.
Avarice is poverty itself” (At-Tabarani). In another hadith, he
says that avoiding greed makes a believer honorable “. . . The
honor of the believer lies in his not casting his eyes on the
possessions of others” (al-Hakim). And in another hadith, the
Prophet (saas) points out the difference between being ambi-
tious and not being ambitious for the things of this world:
“Whosever’s desire and objective is the world, Allah will narrow
that person’s affairs in his disfavor, will make his poverty
between his two eyes [in other words, he will suffer troubles for
the sake of obtaining the things of this world] and nothing from
the world [blessings and goods] but what is written for him [in