Asalamo Alikum,
There is a major sin that many Muslims commit daily without their knowledge, which is overspending for no reason. This is called extravagance in Islam.
• Quran (7:31) O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid (mosque), and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
Please note that Allah has allowed us to enjoy our lives, and commanded us to take our adornment in praying, and to eat and drink, but also commanded us not be exaggerate.
Let me give you an example of how you may be one of the extravagances. There are a variety of cars available in the market. Some have a 4-cylinder, 1.6-liter engine, others a 6-cylinder 3.6-liter and 8-cylinder 5.3-liter, and so on. They are all beautiful and reliable cars. When you choose an expensive car whose price is more than $25,000 while you can buy a car that is worth $16,000 car, then this is called waste in Islam. Keep in mind that it will cost you more money to maintain like you will use twice as much gas for the same trip if you use a bigger engine, and the insurance will be more expensive, and so on. Please note that there are many things to name but I gave you one example to show how we waste without knowing.
Allah commanded us not to exaggerate because those who spend excessively are the brothers of Satan. This is very dangerous and Muslims should understand it carefully. Allah commanded us to help the needy instead of overspending for no reason. This means that Allah wanted us to buy the $16,000 car instead of a $25,000 car and donate the surplus money to the poor, or to keep the surplus money with our savings and at the end of the year, we have to pay 2.5% zakat (charity) on this money.
• Quran (17:26-27) 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.
Some Muslims may argue about this and say that Allah made these beautiful things for our pleasure because of verse (7:32). But keep in mind that a $16,000 car is sometimes more beautiful and reliable than a $25,000 car.
• Quran (7:32) Say, “Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?” Say, “They are for those who believe during the worldly life [but] exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection.” Thus do We detail the verses for a people who know.
They may argue about this as well and say that Allah told Qarun to enjoy his life as long as he helps the needy.
• Quran (28:77) But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters."
So they may argue that they help the needy and want to enjoy life and buy anything expensive. But keep in mind that Allah said that He created these expensive and beautiful things to test us, not to enjoy us.
• Quran (18:7) Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed.
Allah also commanded Muslims not to even look at these enjoyment categories, because Allah said that He is testing them and He will crush them.
• Quran (20:131) And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring.
Allah has clearly told us that He will ask us what blessings He has given us and what we have done with them.
• Quran (102:8) Then on that day you shall most certainly be questioned about the boons
Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) said, Man’s feet will not move on the Day of Resurrection before he is asked about four things: his life and how did he consume it; his body and how did he use it; his knowledge and what he did with it; and his wealth and how he earned it and spent it.
Can you stand the heat of hot weather for 5 minutes, so remember that every day in the fire of hell is equivalent to 1000 years of our time on earth?
If this post makes sense to you, please share it on your social media because you don’t know which good deed will help you go to heaven.
Regards,
