Al-Fajr – Verse 20

وَتُحِبّونَ المالَ حُبًّا جَمًّا

And you love wealth with exceeding fondness.

EXEGESIS

The word jamma which is used here adjectivally and qualifying the word ḥubban, means: very much, abounding, dearly,[1] covetously, and greedily.[2]

EXPOSITION

The critical tone continues unabated in this verse. Qummī paraphrases this verse by writing: ‘You hoard it and do not spend it for the sake of God.’[3]

INSIGHTS FROM HADITH

  1. Imam Ali (a) said: ‘The love of wealth weakens one’s religion and corrupts one’s conviction.’[4]
  2. Imam Ali (a) said: ‘Wealth corrupts the ultimate goal and heightens one’s expectations.’[5]
[1] Arabic-English Dictionary of Qur’anic Usage, p. 172.
[2] Tabrisi.J, 6/489.
[3] Qummi, 2/420.
[4] Ghurar, h. 4876.
[5] Ghurar, h. 1427.