Detestability of Over-Spending and Living in Austerity

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once, read this verse from the Holy Quran. . those who do not spend excessively or with severe austerity, but with moderation,’ (25: 67) he (the Imam) then picked up a handful of pebbles and kept them firmly in his hand, saying, ‘This is severe austerity that Allah has mentioned in His book.’ He then picked up another handful of pebbles and then opened his hand altogether saying, ‘This is excessive spending.’ He then picked up a handful of pebbles, opened his hand half-way, and held some of the pebbles in his hand, saying, ‘This is moderation.’”

“Once I asked abu al-Hassan, the 1st (a.s.), about the expenses of one’s dependents. He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is between the two detestable limits: namely, excessive spending and severe austerity.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘There is very little blessing with excessive spending.’”

“Sometimes poor people may spend more excessively than a wealthy one. A wealthy person spends from what he has received, but a poor person spends from that which does not belong to him.’”

“A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘Give His right on the day of its harvest and do not spend excessively; He does not love excessive spenders.’ (6:141) He (the Imam) said, ‘So and so, he mentioned his name, Ansariy (people of al-Madinah) had a farm. After harvest, he would give all of it in charity. He and his dependents would remain without anything. Thus, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, called such spending excessive.’”

“This is about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘You must not make your hands tied up to your neck nor open it excessively so you remain blame-worth and tied up.’ (17:29) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Mahsur (tied up) means severe austerity.’”

“Once, I was in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when a man came asking for help. He (the Imam) gave him a handful of dates from a basket. Then another one came also asking for help. He (the Imam) also gave him a handful of dates. Then another one came asking for help, and he gave him a handful as well. Yet another one came asking for help. He (the Imam) stood up and gave him a handful. Thereafter another one came asking for help. He (the Imam) said, ’Allah is our provider as well as yours.’ He then said, ‘Whoever would come to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, asking for worldly help, he would give it to him. Once a women sent her son telling him, “Go and ask him for help and if he says, ‘I do not have anything to give,’ say, ‘give me your shirt.’” He (the Imam) said that he (the Messenger of Allah) took his shirt off and threw it to him. Another Hadith stated that the Messenger of Allah gave his shirt, but Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, instructed him with the discipline of moderation, saying, ‘Do not keep your hands tied up to your neck nor open them excessively to remain thereafter tied down and blame-worthy.’”

“This is about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘It (moderation) was in between . . .’ (25:67), the Imam said, ‘Al-Qawam (moderation) is a Benevolent Assistance,’ ‘. . . proportionate to the abilities of a wealthy and poor person is a right upon the people of good deeds.’

“This is about the words of Allah, most High, ‘Those who, when spending, do not do it excessively or with severe austerity, but with moderation.’ He opened his palm and tilted it a little to one side. About the words of Allah, most High, ‘Do not open your hand excessively . . .’ (25:67) he opened up his palm all the way saying, ‘Like this.’ He said, ‘Al-Qawam is when something is left in your palm and something is allowed to leave your palm.’”

“Once, I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘What is the minimum limit of excessive spending?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is when you give away your clothes that you need for protection, burning the leftovers in your cooking utensils, and eating dates and scattering the stones inside them here and there.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Four people’s prayers are not accepted. One is he who destroys his wealth and appeals, “Lord, grant me sustenance.’” Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, then says, “Did I not command you to observe moderation?””’