2.30. EXTRAVAGANCE

God says

….eat of their fruit when it comes to fruition, and give [unto the poor] their due on harvest day. And do not waste [God’s bounties]: He does not love the wasteful! -- Q.6:141

O children of Adam! Beautify yourselves for every act of worship ; and eat and drink [freely], but do not waste: verily, He does not love the wasteful! -- Q. 7:31

…. give his due to near of kin, as well as to the needy and the wayfarer, but do not squander [thy substance] senselessly.* Behold, the squanderers are, indeed, of the ilk [lit., “brethren”] of satans – inasmuch as Satan has proved to be most ungrateful to his Sustainer. -- Q.17:26,27
*It is to be borne in mind that the term tabdheer does not relate to the quantity but, rather, to the purpose of one’s spending. Thus, both Ibn Abbas and ibn Masud (both of them quoted by Tabari) defined tabdheer as “spending without a righteous purpose” or “in a frivolous (baatil) cause”: and Mujahid is reported to have said, “If a man were to spend all that he possesses in a righteous cause, it could not be termed as squandering; but if he spends even a small amount in a frivolous cause, it is squandering.”

Yet we should remember verse 17:29 “And neither allow thy hand to remain shackled to thy neck (like a miser), nor stretch it forth to the utmost limit [of thy capacity], lest thou find thyself blamed [by thy dependents], or even destitute.” Also verse 25:67 “[the servants of Most Gracious are] those who, when they spend on others are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a just (balance) between those (extremes).”

Prophet said

1. “(God disliked that you) squander possessions”– H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Mughirah.

2. The Holy Prophet passed by Sa`ad while he was performing ablution and asked, “Why this extravagance?” Sa`ad enquired: Is there any extravagance in ablution? “Yes” said the Prophet, “Even though you may be doing it from a flowing rivulet.”-- H: Ahmed and Ibn Majah. N: Abdullah-b-Amr-b-al-‘Aas

Conservation of resources is stressed in Islam even if a resource is in plenty, as can be seen by the above verses as well as Prophet’s sayings.
Today the world is crying for conservation of food, water and energy. Muslims are bound by their belief to take the lead and set an example, wherever they are. It is their religious duty.

2.29. MISERLINESS (concluded)

God says

. …he who acts niggardly [in God’s cause] is but niggardly towards his own self: for God is indeed self-sufficient, whereas you stand in need [of Him]; and if you turn away [from Him], He will cause other people to take your place, and they will not be the likes of you! -- Q.47: 38

But as for him who is niggardly, and thinks that he is self-sufficient, and calls the ultimate good a lie – for him shall We make easy the path towards hardship: and what will his wealth avail him when he goes down [to his grave]. -- Q.92: 8 -11

[woe unto] those who want only to be seen [praying] and praised, but refuse [to supply even] neighbourly needs. -- Q.107:6,7

Prophet said

1. “…the charitable man who even though may be illiterate is dearer to God than the miser even though he may be pious” -- H: Tirmizi. N: Abu Hurairah.

2. “(The worst of men is) he who is begged off in the name of God but who does not give for Him” – H: Tirmizi, Ahmed and Nisai. N: Ibn ‘Abbas.

3. “The charity of a silver coin in one’s lifetime is better than his charity of one hundred coins at the time of his death" – H: Abu Daud. N: Abu Sayeed.

Restraining of ones hand where expense is necessary means miserliness; and to spend where restraint is necessary is extravagance: both are disallowed.

2.29. MISERLINESS

God says

And they should not think – they who niggardly cling to all that God has granted them out of His bounty – that this is good for them: nay. It is bad for them.* That to which they [so] niggardly cling will, on the Day of Resurrection, be hung about their necks: for unto God [alone] belongs the heritage of the heavens and of the earth; and God is aware of all that you do. -- Q.3:180
* This is an allusion to the way of life of the unbelievers mentioned in the earlier verse 3: 179: a way or life characterized by extreme attachment to the material things of this world – a materialism based on a lack of belief in anything that transcends the practical problem of life.

[God loves not] those who are niggardly or enjoin niggardliness on others, or hide the bounties which God has bestowed on them… Q.4:37

Make not your hand tied [like a niggard’s] to your neck… Q.17:29

Prophet said

1. “Beware of miserliness because it destroyed those who were before you” --
H: Muslim. N: Jabir.

2. “There are two traits that are not present in a believer: miserliness and bad conduct.” -- Tirmizi. N: Abu Sayeed.

3. “…Miser is far off from God, from paradise, from people, and is near hell” -- H: Tirmizi. N: Abu Hurairah.

2.28. ASPECTS OF CHARITY (concluded)

God says

…. And spend on others out of what We have provided for you as sustenance,* ere there come a time when death approaches any of you, and he then says, “O my Sustainer! If only Thou wouldst grant me a delay for a short while so that I could give in charity and be among the righteous!” But never does God grant a delay to a human being when his term has come; and God is fully aware of all that you do.- Q.63:10-11
*Ar-rizq (“provision of sustenance”) applies to all that may be of benefit to
man whether it be concrete (like food, property, offspring, etc.) or abstract (like
knowledge, piety etc.). It is precisely in selfless acts of spending that true piety
comes in its full fruition.
The context of the verse lays emphasis on helping now, now that we can.

Let him who has ample means spend in accordance with his amplitude; and let him whose means of subsistence are scanty spend in accordance with what God has given him: God does not burden any human being with more than He has given him -- [and it may well be that] God will grant, after hardship, ease. -- Q.65:7

Prophet said

1. “Do not regard any good deed too humble even if it be (as small as) meeting a brother(i.e, any Muslim) with cheerful countenance’ – H: Muslim. N: Abu Zarr.

2. Sa`ad-b-Ubaidah enquired: O Messenger of God! The mother of Sa`ad has died; so which charity is best? The Prophet replied, “Water”. Then Sa`ad excavated a well and said: this is for the mother of Sa`ad.’ – H: Abu Daud and Nisai. N: Sa`ad-b-Ubaidah.

3. “A man whom God did not provide wealth or knowledge but whose (sincere)
intention is to have done the (charitable) work of such and such (benevolent rich) had he the riches (then) rewards of both are equal.” – H: Tirmizi. N: Kabshah al-Anmariy.
Quite obviously, without wealth or knowledge it was beyond him to do what he desired even if he had tried very hard for it. On the other hand if one had the ability to try; tried but could not succeed, even then the rewards will be equal.

4. Bibi Ayeshah reported that people sacrificed a goat. The Messenger of God asked, “Is there anything left (after giving away in charity).” She said: Nothing remained except the shoulder. He said, “Everything remains except the shoulder.”-- H: Tirmizi.

(The above reminds one of an old saying: What you gave, you have; what you spent, you had; what you saved, you lost.)

2.28. Aspectsof Charity (to be continued)

God says

A kind of word and veiling of another's want is better than charity followed by hurt: -- Q.2:263

.....and choose not for your spending the bad things (to others) which you yourselves would not accept without averting your eyes in disadain. -- Q.2:267

Never shall you attain to tru piety unless you spend on others what you chericsh yourselves; -- Q.3:92

And Neither allow thy hand to remain shackled to thy neck,* nor stretch it forth to the utmost limit (of thy capacity), lest thou find thyself blamed (by thy dependents), or even destitute. -- Q.17:29

* A metaphor signifying miserliness and, in particular, unwillingness to help others (cf. a similar expression in 5:64).

Prophet said

1. "...wealth of a man does not diminish if given in charity..." -- H:Tirmizi. N:Abu Kabshah al-Anmariy.

2. "Spend and don't count lest god couns while giving you, and don't hoard up lest God with holds from you. Spend (on charity) what you can." - H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Asma

3. "Indeed charity decreases wrath of God and removes pangs of death." -- H: Tirmizi. N: Anas.

2.27. CHARITY (concluded)

God says

When [they perceived Qarun’s arrogance,] his people said unto him: “Exult not [in thy wealth], for, verily, God does not love those who exult [in things vain]! Seek instead, by means of what God has granted thee, [the good of] the life to come,* without forgetting, withal, thine own [rightful] share in this world;** and do good [unto others] as God has done good unto thee; and seek not to spread corruption on earth: for, verily, God does not love the spreaders of corruption!”-- Q.28: 76,77

* I.e., by spending in charity and on good causes.

** Lit., “and do not forget …”, etc.: a call to generosity and, at the same time, to moderation (cf. 2: 143 – “We have willed you to be a community of the middle way”)

….and (God-conscious would assign) in their wealth and possessions the due share unto such as might ask [for help] and such as might suffer privation.* -- Q.51:19

* Sc., “but could not beg” – and this applies to all living creatures, whether human beings or mute animals (Razi), irrespective of whether the need is of a physical or of an emotional nature.

Prophet said

1. “Whoever seeks shelter from you in the name of God, give him shelter;

whoever begs in the name of God, give him;…”-- H: Abu Daud, Ahmad and Nisai. N: Ibn Omar.

2. “The best charity is that which is given when one is not (even) wealthy; and begin (charity) first with relatives”– H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah and Hakeem-b-Hezam.

3. “The generous man is near God, near paradise, near people and is far off from hell….”-- H: Tirmizi. N: Abu Hurairah.

2.27. CHARITY (to be continued)

God says

The parable of those who spend their possessions for the sake of God is that of a grain out of which grow seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains: for God grants manifold increase unto whom He wills; and God is infinite, all knowing. They who spend their charity for the sake of God and do not thereafter mar their spending by stressing their own benevolance and hurting [the feelings of the needy] shall have their reward with their Sustainer, and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve. -- Q.2:261,262

O you who believe! Do not deprive your charitable deeds of all worth by stressing your own benevolance and hurting [the feelings of the needy], as does he who spends his wealth only to be seen and be praised by men, and believes not in God and the Last Day: -- Q.2:264

Satan threatens you with the prospect of poverty and bids you to be niggardly, whereas God promises you His forgiveness and bounty; and God is infinite, all-knowing. -- Q.2:268

If you do deeds of charity openly, it is well; but if you bestow it upon the needy in secret, it will be even better for you, and it will atone some of your bad deeds. And God is aware of all that you do.-- Q.271

Prophet said

1. "....Doing justice is charity... and good word is charity... every step he (or she) takes towards prayer is charity... and removing harmful things from pathways is charity (this includes obstructions in the way of others: economical, social, spiritual.)" -- H. Bukhari and Muslim. N. Abu Huraira.

2. "To enjoin good is charity, to forbid evil is charity" -- H. Muslim. N: Bukhari

3. "Every good deed is charity" -- H. Bukhari and Muslim.

4. "God said: spend (on charity), O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you" -- Hadees Qudsi: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Huraira.