Al Salam Alaikum 🌱 

Today, I continue our series, "Everything I Learned About Entrepreneurship, I Learned from the Quran," focusing on a topic that often creeps into our entrepreneurial journey unnoticed - greed.

🤑 Struggling with Greed

As entrepreneurs, we naturally strive for growth and success, which inevitably includes expanding our businesses, increasing our profits, and gaining more market share.

However, this pursuit can sometimes blur the line between healthy ambition and unchecked greed.

I must confess that I too have fallen into the trap of greed.

There was a time in my entrepreneurial journey when I found myself wanting more - more customers, more profits, more recognition.

I was so consumed with this desire for 'more' that I lost sight of my initial 'why' - the purpose that drove me to start my business in the first place.

The result was a period of confusion, disconnection, and spiritual discomfort that served as a wake-up call.

📖 Quranic Lessons on Wealth & Greed

In this context, I want to draw your attention to Surah At-Takathur (102:1-8), Surah Al-Humaza (104:1-4), and the story of the man with the garden in Surah Al-Kahf (18:32-44).

Surah At-Takathur warns us of the perils of piling up worldly possessions to the point where it distracts us from our faith and our ultimate return to Allah (SWT).

Surah Al-Humaza speaks about those who defame others with their words and actions, amass wealth, and think that their wealth makes them immortal.

The story of the man with the garden in Surah Al-Kahf is a cautionary tale about the dangers of wealth and pride.

This man, blessed with two gardens, becomes arrogant and ungrateful. He believes his wealth will never perish and even doubts the existence of the Hereafter.

However, his wealth is destroyed, and he regrets his arrogance and disbelief. This story is a stark reminder of the transient nature of worldly wealth and the importance of gratitude and humility.

The Quran states in Surah Al-Isra: "And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful” (17:100).

This verse reminds us that no amount of worldly wealth can compare to the countless blessings Allah has bestowed upon us. It encourages us to show gratitude for what we have and warns us against becoming excessively greedy.

💬 The Prophet’s Warning Against Greed

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also warned against greed in a Hadith reported by Al-Tirmidhi:

"Beware of greed, for it was only greed that destroyed those who came before you. It commanded them to be miserly and they did so. It commanded them to sever their family ties and they did so. It commanded them to behave wickedly and they did so."

This Hadith teaches us that greed can lead to destructive behavior, such as stinginess and severing family ties. It serves as a reminder to control our desires and to always put ethical and spiritual considerations above worldly gains.

As faith-first entrepreneurs, these verses offer us invaluable insights. They serve as reminders to maintain a balance between our worldly pursuits and our spiritual goals.

Our businesses should not be solely about amassing wealth and “outdoing” competitors. Instead, they should be vehicles that bring us closer to Allah (SWT) and enable us to serve His creation.

🔑 Key Takeaways

So, how do we ensure we don't fall into the trap of greed? Here are a few practical steps:

🌟 Revisit Your 'Why': Regularly remind yourself of why you started your business. This will help keep your entrepreneurial journey aligned with your spiritual goals.

💗 Practice Gratitude: Be thankful for what you already have. This can help curb the desire for 'more' and promote contentment.

🤝 Serve Others: Use your business to serve your community. This can help shift the focus from personal gain to collective good.

📿 Seek Allah’s Guidance: Regularly ask Allah to guide your business decisions and keep you away from greed.

Set aside 5 minutes today to reflect on your ambitions and assess whether they are veering into greed.

Ask yourself: "Am I striving for growth in a way that aligns with my spiritual values? Or am I pursuing 'more' at the expense of my faith and purpose?"

This regular introspection can serve as a powerful tool to keep your entrepreneurial journey in check and aligned with your spiritual goals.

🤲 Closing Supplication

May Allah guide us on this path and keep us away from the pitfalls of greed.

Ameen.