Dr. Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri
Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia; Founder - Director
Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center
Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana">Islam is a natural religion, i.e. following its rules comes naturally to one and all</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-language:ER">.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Islam stresses on moderation in all walks of life.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER">Almighty Allah says in condemnation of extravagance and being spendthrift:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER">And give to the kindred their rightful due, and also (give) to the needy and the wayfarer, and do not exhaust (your wealth) by expending wastefully.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Surely, the spendthrifts are the brothers of Satan, and Satan is most ungrateful to his Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Surah Bani Israil (17: 26, 27)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER">As per Islam three things are termed extravagance:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .25in"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-language:ER"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span dir="LTR"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-language:ER">Spending one’s wealth in unlawful avenues</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .25in"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-language:ER"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span dir="LTR"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-language:ER">Going overboard in spending in lawful avenues, regardless of whether a person spends more than his means or whether one spends one’s surplus money for in pursuance of luxury and unreasonable desires and whims</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .25in"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-language:ER"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span dir="LTR"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-language:ER">That one spends freely in virtuous tasks but the intention is not to please Allah but ostentation and showing off so that people praise his generosity</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER">All these cases of extravagance are blameworthy and condemnable.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER">Almighty Allah says in Surah An’aam:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER">…..and do not spend wastefully. Surely, He does not like those who spend extravagantly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Surah An’aam (6:141)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER">There is a Hadith in Shu’abul Imaan of Imam Baihaqui:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER">Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Whatever you spend on your own self and on your family members without being extravagant and whatever you spend in the path of Allah Most High, the reward of these is there for you.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And whatever you spend for showing off and fame is the share of the devil.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Shu’abul Imaan, Hadith No. 6279)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER">The Companions asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam):<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What is the ruling about that which we spend on our family members?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Whatever you spend on your family members without stinginess and without extravagance, you spend it in the path of Almighty Allah.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Shu’abul Imaan, Hadith No. 6283)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p>