How can a Muslim be ascetic in this life?

Question:
How can a Muslim be ascetic in this life? Is it in appearance or in reality, for example in clothing, food and drink, housing, and vehicles? Or how is that? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Asceticism in this world is leaving what is forbidden and leaving what a person does not need. This is asceticism in this world: to occupy oneself with what one has no need for, or to consume something that Allah has forbidden. As for taking from what Allah has made lawful what one needs, and what helps one in the matters of his religion and his worldly affairs, this does not conflict with asceticism; rather, this is commanded. The servant’s affairs are not completed, and he cannot perform the worship of his Lord except by relying on what Allah the Exalted has permitted for him. Is asceticism not leaving what Allah the Mighty and Majestic has made lawful?
Rather, asceticism is in what is forbidden, and asceticism is also in occupying oneself with the excess of wealth that distracts one from the obedience of Allah, while he has no need for it. Yes. May Allah reward you with good, and may Allah do you good.