Transformation of the Attribute of Greed According to the Sufis' Educational Works up to the 9th Century AH

This research analyzes the attribute of greed according to the Sufis' educational works up to the 9th century AH. This study is a descriptive-analytical one, shows that greed undergoes content change in three levels of behavior. In the first stage of mystical journey (farq, "difference"), greed is recognized as a negative attribute. Therefore, this level requires that the seeker has a diligent and prudent approach in avoiding greed. In the second stage of mystical journey (fanā', "annihilation") because of the divine ecstasy the seeker's self becomes empty of all mundane attributes. Therefore, in this stage, due to this mystical annihilation, the inferior attribute (greed) becomes despair. In the third stage (baqā', "survival"), the mystic becomes the manifestation of the divine attributes. Greed in this stage, becomes a positive attribute. So greed interprets as the lover yearning to his beloved. Our findings show that although the Sufis' educational works are mainly against the greed, some of their words promote it as a positive attribute in the final stage of mystical journey.