Is extravagance in acts of worship a relative matter, and is there no extravagance in buying perfume?
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The questioner : Some scholars say that extravagance is a relative matter, and they say that there is no extravagance in buying perfume, no matter how much a person spends. Is there a report from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding this?
The Shaykh : As for extravagance in acts of worship, it is not a relative matter because it is defined by the Shari'ah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed wudu' once, twice, and three times, and he said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 140Hasan (Darussalam).
As for extravagance in customary matters, it is a relative matter. A thing may be considered extravagance for one person but not for another. It may be considered extravagance for a specific group but not for another group. It may be considered extravagance for the people of one country but not for the people of another country. So it is a relative matter, and this is known by the rule that extravagance is exceeding the limit.
As for perfume, there is no doubt that if a person is wealthy and buys expensive, high-quality perfume, he is not considered extravagant.
Especially since high-quality perfume, as is well known, retains its scent for a long time and is more pleasant. However, if a person is of moderate means or is poor, then buying such perfume is considered extravagance on his part. Similarly, regarding vehicles, some people are of moderate means or lower, yet they buy a Caprice or a car more luxurious than that because they see their wealthy neighbor has such a car, or their classmate at school, or the like.
Especially now that this door has been opened, which we ask Allah to close, the door of installment payments. This was used, and in reality, it is a trick against the Lord of the Worlds. It is also, in reality, a great harm to the economies of countries and to the debts of people.
The poor and destitute now find it easy to borrow in this way. So much so that a person goes to a merchant and says, "Buy me such-and-such a car from the most luxurious cars." Then the merchant buys it and sells it to him with an interest-based increase. The merchant did not buy it for himself; he bought it for this person, and had it not been for him, he would never have bought it.
And their claim that they do not force him—meaning, if a car dealer buys, he does not force the borrower—this is a claim that does not deceive anyone. But in reality, it is an argument suitable for debate, whereas the reality is not so. For there is no person who comes to someone and says, "Buy me such-and-such a car," or "Buy me such-and-such iron to build my house," or "such-and-such cement to build my house," and then returns and withdraws. This is very far-fetched. In fact, you hardly find one case out of a thousand, if you find any at all.
All of this is a trick, and I seek refuge in Allah, against the Lord of the Worlds. And Allah knows best. I do not claim knowledge of the unseen, nor do I say that I am a prophet that the end of these people will be bankruptcy, meaning those who tricked the Lord of the Worlds (Mighty and Majestic) and burdened the debts of Allah's servants in this way. Allah knows best whether their end will be bankruptcy. Yes.
The Shaykh : As for extravagance in acts of worship, it is not a relative matter because it is defined by the Shari'ah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed wudu' once, twice, and three times, and he said:
Whoever does more than that has done badly, done to extremes and done wrong.
من زاد على هذا فقد أساء وتعدى وظلمAs for extravagance in customary matters, it is a relative matter. A thing may be considered extravagance for one person but not for another. It may be considered extravagance for a specific group but not for another group. It may be considered extravagance for the people of one country but not for the people of another country. So it is a relative matter, and this is known by the rule that extravagance is exceeding the limit.
As for perfume, there is no doubt that if a person is wealthy and buys expensive, high-quality perfume, he is not considered extravagant.
Especially since high-quality perfume, as is well known, retains its scent for a long time and is more pleasant. However, if a person is of moderate means or is poor, then buying such perfume is considered extravagance on his part. Similarly, regarding vehicles, some people are of moderate means or lower, yet they buy a Caprice or a car more luxurious than that because they see their wealthy neighbor has such a car, or their classmate at school, or the like.
Especially now that this door has been opened, which we ask Allah to close, the door of installment payments. This was used, and in reality, it is a trick against the Lord of the Worlds. It is also, in reality, a great harm to the economies of countries and to the debts of people.
The poor and destitute now find it easy to borrow in this way. So much so that a person goes to a merchant and says, "Buy me such-and-such a car from the most luxurious cars." Then the merchant buys it and sells it to him with an interest-based increase. The merchant did not buy it for himself; he bought it for this person, and had it not been for him, he would never have bought it.
And their claim that they do not force him—meaning, if a car dealer buys, he does not force the borrower—this is a claim that does not deceive anyone. But in reality, it is an argument suitable for debate, whereas the reality is not so. For there is no person who comes to someone and says, "Buy me such-and-such a car," or "Buy me such-and-such iron to build my house," or "such-and-such cement to build my house," and then returns and withdraws. This is very far-fetched. In fact, you hardly find one case out of a thousand, if you find any at all.
All of this is a trick, and I seek refuge in Allah, against the Lord of the Worlds. And Allah knows best. I do not claim knowledge of the unseen, nor do I say that I am a prophet that the end of these people will be bankruptcy, meaning those who tricked the Lord of the Worlds (Mighty and Majestic) and burdened the debts of Allah's servants in this way. Allah knows best whether their end will be bankruptcy. Yes.