Extravagance is a detestable trait, and its condemnation is firmly established by reason. Excess in what should be moderated is not endorsed by a sound mind or a stable soul. Islam encourages all that is good and forbids all that is detestable. Allah the Almighty has condemned extravagance and wastefulness in His Noble Book. He says, “And test the orphans [in their abilities] until they reach marriageable age. Then if you perceive in them sound judgement, release their property to them. And do not consume it excessively and quickly, [anticipating] that they will grow up. And whoever, [when acting as guardian], is self-sufficient should refrain [from taking a fee]; and whoever is poor - let him take according to what is acceptable. Then when you release their property to them, bring witnesses upon them. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant.” (An-Nisa: 6) Ibn Kathir explained: Allah forbids consuming the property of orphans unnecessarily and wastefully. (1)
Allah also says, “And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and give its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.” (Al-An'am: 141) At-Tabari explained: The extravagance forbidden by Allah in this ayah refers to exceeding the appropriate amount in spending to the extent that it harms the owner of the wealth. (2)
Allah says as well, “O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.” (Al-A'raf: 31) Al-Suddi said: Do not be wasteful, meaning do not spend all your wealth and then become poor. Al-Zajjaj commented: In this context, if a person spends all his wealth and leaves nothing for his family, he has been wasteful. (3)
As-Sa’di remarked: Extravagance is detested by Allah, and it harms the body and livelihood of a person, to the extent that it might lead him to be unable to fulfill his obligations of expenditure. This noble ayah commands eating and drinking and forbids neglecting them and being wasteful in them. (4)
Allah says too, “And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.” (Al-Isra: 26-27) Ibn Kathir explained: extravagance and foolishness in spending, abandoning obedience to Allah, and committing sins. This is why Allah says, “And ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful” meaning disbelief. Because he denied Allah's favor upon him and did not obey Him, but instead engaged in disobedience and transgressions. (5)
Among extravagance examples:
- Extravagance in Sins and Transgressions:
Allah says, “Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah.'” (Az-Zumar: 53) Al-Qasimi explained: They have wronged themselves by indulging in sins and disbelief. They should not lose hope in Allah's mercy by taking the necessary steps to erase the effects of their transgressions. “Indeed, Allah forgives all sins,” refers to those who repent and believe, as Islam erases what came before it. “Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful. And return [in repentance] to your Lord,” i.e., repent to him. “And submit to Him” by worshiping Him alone and obeying Him by doing what He has commanded and avoiding what He has forbidden. (6)
- Extravagance in Food and Excessive fulfillment:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) forbade extravagance in eating, saying, “A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his spine straight. But if he must (fill it), then one third of food, one third for drink and one third for air.” (7)
Al-Qurtubi commented: Eating beyond fullness is extravagance, and all of it is prohibited. Luqman said to his son, “O my son, do not eat to the point of fullness above fullness, for you would rather leave it for the dog than eat it yourself.” (8)
- Extravagance in Wudu’:
Abdullah ibn Amr reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by Sa'd while he was ablution wudu’ and asked, “What is the meaning of this extravagance, Sa'd?” He replied, “Is there extravagance in ablution?” He said, “Yes, even if you are beside a flowing river.’’ (9)
Ibn al-Qayyim commented: The Prophet (peace be upon him) was among the most modest in using water for wudu’, and he warned his ummah against extravagance in it, stating that there would be people in his ummah who would transgress in purification. (10)
- Extravagance in Utilities:
Extravagance in utilities, such as water and electricity, is also condemned as it constitutes squandering wealth. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “And He disapproved three things for you; irrelevant talk, persistent questioning and wasting of wealth.” (11)
Al-Munawi explained: “Wasting wealth” means spending it on unworthy causes and exposing it to destruction. The prohibition stems from the fact that it is corruption, and Allah does not love the corrupt. Moreover, if one squanders his wealth, he may end up needing what others possess. (12)
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- Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Ibn Kathir (2/216).
- Jami' al-Bayan by at-Tabari (9/614).
- Ma'alim al-Tanzil by al-Baghawi (2/164).
- Taysir al-Karim al-Rahman by al-Sa'di (287).
- Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Ibn Kathir (5/69).
- Mahasin al-Taw'il by al-Qasimi (8/293).
- Narrated by Ibn Majah (3349), al-Tirmidhi (2380), authenticated by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami' (5674).
- Al-Jami' li-Ahkam al-Qur'an by al-Qurtubi, p. 24.
- Narrated by Ibn Majah (425), and Ahmad in Musnad Ahmad (7065), the wording is from Ibn Majah, and its chain was authenticated by Ahmad Shakir in Musnad Ahmad (12/23).
- Zad al-Ma'aad by Ibn al-Qayyim (1/184).
- Narrated by al-Bukhari (1477), and Muslim (593).
- Fayd al-Qadir by al-Munawi (7/3).
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