and avarice in a person is accompanied by greed, an intense desire for wealth, hatred of others, and injustice toward them. As the Most High says:

“Allah certainly knows those among you who hold others back and those who say to their brothers, ‘Come over to us,’ yet hardly ever join in battle, withholding their help from you”—through the verses up to His words: “begrudging any good. Those have not believed, so Allah has rendered their deeds worthless.”

Their avarice toward the believers and toward good entails aversion and hatred. Hatred of good urges one toward evil, while hatred of a person urges one to wrong him and sever ties with him, as does envy. For the envier urges the one who envies him to wrong the person envied and sever ties with him, as in the case of Adam’s two sons and Joseph’s brothers.

Envy and avarice thus entail hatred and aversion, prompting one to withhold what is due and to wrong that person. Here the action springs from hatred, unlike desire, where the action springs from love: a person loves something, pursues it, and acts accordingly. The former’s aim is an absence, and absence brings no benefit. Yet that intention commands an actual deed, and its command is obeyed.

Ibn Mas‘ūd regarded stinginess as distinct from avarice, whereas the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, described avarice as commanding stinginess.

Some people say that avarice and stinginess are the same. As Ibn Jarīr said: “In Arabic usage, avarice means stinginess and withholding surplus wealth.” But it is not