The lawful is lawful when you are sure of it,
and forbidden wealth is not like doubtful wealth.
Know—may God strengthen you—that these two attributes are innate in the human being insofar as he is human. What is innate in the human being cannot possibly cease. It is therefore a station, not a state, since it is enduring. Blame attaches to it through its object when that object is blameworthy in revealed Law and reason, and praise through its object when praiseworthy in revealed Law and reason. He, exalted is He, said, “You will find them the most avid of people for life” [al-Baqara 2:96]. He, God bless him and grant him peace, said, “May God increase your avidity, but do not repeat it.” The verse could be directed toward both praise and blame, were it not for the pronoun in “You will find them,” which refers to censured people. The circumstance indicates that its avidity is mentioned by way of blame, refuting their claim that the abode of the Hereafter belongs exclusively to them rather than to other people.
Whoever considers this avidity as an indication of their falsehood finds it praiseworthy within them, since it is a divine indication of their falsehood. From the Real’s side it is God’s argument against them: “To God belongs the conclusive argument.” The blameworthy is blameworthy in every respect insofar as it is within them, not insofar as it indicates something about them. Its object being what perishes and contradicting the truthful one, it was blameworthy.
In the report we cited, however, it is praiseworthy, for it is avidity to perform an obligatory act of worship.
(The Heir’s Avidity for the Community’s Welfare)
Moreover, they are
Notes
Translator’s note TN4106-1: The same avidity is judged differently as a disposition within those censured and as an indication exposing their false claim. Its praiseworthy use in the cited report concerns performing obligatory worship.
