The Criterion for Distinguishing Between Excess and Waste
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Question:
In the last of the questioner Umm Tamadir’s questions, she says: I constantly hear about being economical with money and not wasting it. What is the criterion for knowing what constitutes excess and what does not?
Answer:
Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) clarified this. He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Isra: 26]. And waste is placing money where it does not belong, spending it in a direction that yields no benefit. And He, the Exalted, said regarding the description of spending that is measured and straight: [Al-Furqan: 67], meaning: they did not increase in spending, nor did they fall short, but they spent in a moderate manner. This is what is prescribed.
As for the one who increases and spends where spending is not appropriate, this is called excess and waste. What exceeds the need is called excess, and spending money in a way other than its proper purpose is called waste. Spending money in its proper purpose is good and moderate.
So the believer seeks to spend money in its proper purposes. And when he spends in his home, or on his guests, or on his servants, he spends in a moderate manner, neither excess nor waste: [Al-Furqan: 67]. And He, the Exalted, says: [Al-Isra: 29], but between that.
So placing extra food and extra meat without a limit is not moderate; this is excess. Unless his intention is to give the extra to the poor, giving the surplus to the poor and the needy, then there is no harm.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
In the last of the questioner Umm Tamadir’s questions, she says: I constantly hear about being economical with money and not wasting it. What is the criterion for knowing what constitutes excess and what does not?
Answer:
Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) clarified this. He, the Exalted, said:
and do not spend wastefully.
وَلا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًاAnd [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ قَوَامًاAs for the one who increases and spends where spending is not appropriate, this is called excess and waste. What exceeds the need is called excess, and spending money in a way other than its proper purpose is called waste. Spending money in its proper purpose is good and moderate.
So the believer seeks to spend money in its proper purposes. And when he spends in his home, or on his guests, or on his servants, he spends in a moderate manner, neither excess nor waste:
And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُواAnd do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.
وَلا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَى عُنُقِكَ وَلا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَحْسُورًاSo placing extra food and extra meat without a limit is not moderate; this is excess. Unless his intention is to give the extra to the poor, giving the surplus to the poor and the needy, then there is no harm.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.