signs, symptoms and cures of the spiritual diseases of the heart
The refusal to give what is obliged according to sacred law or to virtuous merit is the essence of miserliness.
Love of the fleeting, material aspects of this world. The miser ardently clings to his wealth and hoards it. Miserly people are those who are unable to let go of something that otherwise poisons them.
The treatment for miserliness is realizing that those who achieve wealth usually do so only after exhausting themselves over long periods of time, working for it day and night. Meanwhile, life passes on and time runs out. The culture of wanting more simply for the sake of more can occupy a person for an entire lifetime. But in the end, life is over. It terminates for the beggar and the affluent just the same, whether one is old or young, rich or poor, happy or sad.
Reflect long and hard on the fact that just as people climb the heights of affluence and start to achieve what they have worn themselves out for, death assails them without invitation. When death takes us and moves us on, our wealth stays behind for others to wrangle over and spend.
Realize the level of disdain shown to misers. Nobody likes a miser. Even misers loathe each other. Realizing the hatred people have for misers is enough to turn one away from this disease.
With this same treatment, treat the person whose heart's ailment is love of wealth.
Imam Ali said, "The worst person is the miser. In this world, he is deprived of his wealth, and in the Hereafter, he is punished."
The Prophet ﷺ said, "A leader should never be a miser."
"O you who believe, spend from the good things you have earned and from what We brought out for you from the earth. And do not seek what is inferior in order to spend from it, though you yourselves would not take it unless your eyes were closed to it. And know that God is ever-rich and worthy of praise" (QUR'AN, 2:267).
"You will not attain to righteousness until you spend of what you love" (QUR'AN, 3:92).