One of the rights of disposal is spending. Spending a property means granting it without return, while granting a property for something in return is not called spending (Infaq). Allah (swt) says:

“Spend in the way of Allah” [Al-Baqarah: 195] He (swt) said:

“And of that which We provided to them, they spend” [Al-Baqarah: 3] He (swt) also said:

“Let the one who is able to spend, spend the best He can” [At-Talaq: 7]

Islam follows its own way, so it defined the ways of spending (Infaq) and put checks for these ways. It did not leave the property owner free in his disposal, in a way that He can spend his property as He likes. It rather determined the way of disposal of his property both during his life and after his death.

The individual’s disposal of his property through transmitting his ownership to another person without return, could be through giving it to people or through spending it upon himself and upon those He is responsible to support them financially. Spending could be done during his life, like granting, gifting, charity, financial support and Nafaqah. It could also be after his death, like the will. Islam intervened in this spending, in such a way that it prevented the Muslims from granting or a gift given to the enemy, in case of war, in anything that strengthens them against Muslims. It even prevented Muslims from giving charity to the enemy in that case. Islam also prevented the Muslim from giving grants, donations or gifts unless He keeps for himself and for his family that which keeps them satisfied and free from dependency upon others. If He did otherwise, then his gift and grant would be cancelled. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “The best charity (is) that which leaves you not needy, and you start by giving charity to those whom you (financially) support”, narrated by Bukhari from Abu Hurairah. Ad- Darimi narrated from Jabir ibn Abdullah that He said: “While we were with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) a man came to him, holding an egglike piece of gold, which He gained in one of the battles. Ahmad said, it was in one of the mines, which is true. The man said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, take it from me as charity. By Allah I have no property other than it.’ The Prophet (pbuh) turned his face away from him. Then the man came from the left of the Prophet, and said as before, then He came from the front of Him and repeated it again. The Prophet (pbuh) then said angrily, ‘Let me have it’, and He threw it at Him in such a way that if it had touched Him it would have hurted or wounded him, and said ‘(Why) does one of you (people) deliberately give away his property as charity, when He has nothing other than it, and then He sits to beg from people? Indeed charity is out of sufficiency. Take yours, for we have no need for it.’ The man took his property.”’

The sufficiency which the person leaves for himself and his family is that which meets their basic needs; that is the foodstuff, dress, home including the luxuries which are considered necessary for Him according to his usual standard of living. That is the amount of property which satisfies Him according to the usual standard known amongst people of his like. This is assessed according to his usual needs, maintaining the standard of living at which he, his family and similar people live. In regard with what Allah (swt) says:

...but prefer (the Emigrants) over themselves, though poverty was their lot.” [Al-Hashr: 9]

This does not mean that even if they were in poverty as it might be thought. It rather means, even if they had a need for more than their basic needs. The evidence for that is that the Prophet (pbuh) gave charity for those who were in poverty, and He did not exclude from giving charity except those who had no need for property. The word Khasasa in the verse, linguistically relates to the Khasas of the house which are the gaps or openings in it. So the entire verse is:

“… and entertain no desire in their hearts for things given to the (emigrants), but give them preference over themselves, even though poverty was their own lot …” [Al-Hashr: 9].

What is meant by the prohibition of giving charity in the sayings of the Prophet (pbuh): “Charity is out of sufficiency”, and “(Why) does one of you (people) deliberately give away his property as charity, when He has nothing other than it, and then He sits to beg from people”, both from a Hadith narrated by Ad-Darimi, is that the poor person who does not fulfil his basic needs is not allowed to give in charity things necessary for meeting his basic needs. Because charity must be out of sufficiency i.e. that which keeps Him in no need to people for satisfying his basic needs. But as for the person who has property in excess of his basic needs, and after satisfying his basic needs He sees that He is in need to satisfy more than his basic needs, like luxuries, it is preferable for such a person to prefer the poor people over himself, by giving that excess of property as charity to the poor though He needs such property to satisfy his luxuries.

Islam also prevented the person from granting, gifting or giving as a will when He is dying. In the case where He gives a grant, gift or will when He was dying, then only one third of what He gave is actually executed. Ad- Daraqutni narrated from Abu Ad-Dardaa that He said: The Prophet (pbuh) of Allah (swt) said: “Allah allowed you one third of your property (to distribute) at the time of dying to increase in your good things (Hasanat), so as to make it an increment in your (good) deeds.” Imran ibn Hussain narrated “that a man from the Ansar set free his six slaves when He was dying, while He had no property other than them. The Prophet (pbuh) called them, divided them into three equal parts and drew lot on them thus setting free two of them and keping four as slaves.” So if setting slaves free, a matter which Shar’a encouraged, was not executed, then other actions are even more so similarly considered.

All this is in regard to the disposal of the property by giving it to people. But as for the disposal of property through spending it upon oneself and upon those He is responsible to spend on, Islam addressed this matter and outlined a proper way for it. Accordingly, it prohibited the person from certain things, as follows:

A. It prohibited the person from being prodigal (excessive) in spending, and it considered that as foolishness (Safah) which requires preventing the foolish person and squanderer from disposal of his property by restricting Him (i.e. making Hajr on him) and appointing a guardian over Him to dispose of his properties in his interest. Allah (swt) said:

“Give not to the foolish your wealth, which Allah has assigned to you to manage; but feed and clothe them from it.” [An-Nisa: 5]

So Allah (swt) prohibited the right of disposal of property to the foolish and He gave Him only the right to be fed and clothed from it. Allah (swt) also said:

“But if He who owes the debt was foolish or weak or unable himself to dictate, then let the guardian of his interests dictate in (terms of) equity.” [Al-Baqarah: 282]

So Allah (swt) made guardianship upon the foolish a duty (Wajib). Al Mughira ibn Shu’aba narrated that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) “prohibited wasting the property”, a part of a Hadith narrated by Ad- Darimi, Bukhari and Muslim.

Prodigality (Israf) and squandering (Tabdheer) are two words that have linguistic and divine (Shar’i) meanings. The linguistic meaning prevailed amongst the people, and became detached from the divine meaning. So they started to interpret these two words in a manner other than that intended by Shar’a. As for their linguistic meaning, prodigality means exceeding the limit of moderation which is the opposite of the middle course. As for squandering, it means wasting and eliminating the property. With regards to the divine (Shari’) meaning of the two words, prodigality and squandering mean spending money (property) on anything prohibited by Allah (swt). So anything spent the way Allah (swt) allowed or commended would not be considered prodigality or squandering, whether it was little or great. While anything spent the way Allah (swt) forbids would be prodigality and squandering, whether it is little or great. It was narrated that Az-Zuhri used to say in explaining the words of Allah (swt):

“And let not your hand be chained to your neck, nor open it with a complete opening” [Al-Isra: 29] He said: “Don’t stop spending it upon something right (Haqq), nor spend it on a false (Batil) thing.” The word prodigality was mentioned in the Qur’an in several verses:

“And those who when they spend are neither prodigal nor niggardly, and there is ever a firm station between the two” [Al-Furqan: 67]

So prodigality here means to spend on sin, while spending on the things which bring one close to Allah (swt) has no prodigality. So the meaning of the verse is: Do not spend your property on the sins, and do not be niggardly even in spending it on the allowed things, rather it is better for you to spend it on more than the allowed things (Mubahat), that is in charity. So spending property on the forbidden things is dispraised and stinginess in the allowed things is dispraised as well. What is praised is to spend on the allowed things and the charities. Allah (swt) said:

“Don’t be prodigal (when you spend), surely He (Allah) does not like those who are prodigal.” [Al-An’am: 141]

This is censure by Allah (swt) of prodigality, which is spending on sins. The word prodigals (Musrifeen) came to mean those who are turning away from remembrance (Dhikr) of Allah (swt). He (swt) said:

“But when We had relieved Him of his misfortune He went his way as though He had not cried to Us for the misfortune that afflicted him. Thus do the deeds of the (transgressors) prodigals seem fair in their eyes.” [Yunus: 12]

This means that Satan presents favourably, through his insinuation, what the prodigals do by way of turning away from Allah’s remembrance and following their whims. So Allah (swt) described those who turn away from the remembrance of Allah as prodigals.

The word ‘prodigals’ came also to mean those whose wickedness exceeded their goodness. Allah (swt) said:

“Assuredly, that to whom you call me has no claim in the world or in the Hereafter, and our return will be to Allah, and the prodigals will be the people of the fire.” [Ghafir: 43]

It was narrated from Qatadah that He said the meaning of prodigals here is the Mushrikeen (i.e. those who associate partners with Allah). Mujahid said that the prodigals here means those who unjustly shed blood. It was said also that it means those whose wickedness exceeded their goodness.

The word prodigals came also to mean the corrupters (Mufsideen). Allah (swt) said:

“Therefore keep your duty to Allah and obey Me. And obey not the command of the prodigals. Who spread corruption in the earth and do not reform.” [Ash-Shu’ara: 151-152]

So in all these verses, the word prodigals (Musrifeen) absolutely does not carry its linguistic meaning; it rather has divine (Shar’i) meanings. And when it is mentioned in connection with spending it is meant to be the spending of property sinfully (in disobedience). So to explain it with its linguistic meaning is invalid, because Allah (swt) intended for it a particular divine meaning.

Squandering (Tabdheer) has a divine meaning which also means spending on the Haram things. Allah (swt) said:

“And squander not (your wealth) in wantonness. Lo! The squanderers were ever brothers of the devils.” [Al-Isra: 26-27]

This means that the squanderers are like the devils in their wickedness, which is the greatest rebuke, because there is none more ‘devilish’ than Satan, and squandering means here to spend the property on forbidden matters. It was narrated from Abdullah ibn Mas’oud that He said: “Squandering means to spend the property on other than its right.” Mujahid said also: “If a Mudd (a dry measure =18 litres) was spent unrightfully it would be squandering”. It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said that the squanderer is the one who spends unrightfully. Qatadah said: “Squandering is spending sinfully (in disobedience of Allah), not on the right thing and in the corruption (Fasad).” These meanings have been mentioned by at-Tabari in his tafseer. All this indicates that what is meant by prodigality and squandering is the spending on what is prohibited by Allah (swt). So spending on anything prohibited by Shar’a is considered illegal (unrightful) which requires declaring the doer as incompetent. And regarding the one who is declared incompetent; his charity, selling, gift and his marriage are all not executed. Any loan He took would not be duly repaid nor would He be convicted for not repaying it. But the actions He did before the declaration of his incompetence are implemented until a judge declares his incompetence. In regard with what Allah (swt) says:

“And let not your hand be chained to your neck nor open it with a complete opening lest you sit down rebuked, derided.” [Al-Isra: 29]

The prohibition here is the complete opening not the opening. So Allah (swt) did not forbid a high level of spending on the Halal things i.e. opening the hand. What is forbidden is the complete opening of the hand, which is spending on the Haram. Not forbidding the opening of the hand, i.e. a high level of spending (because this is what is meant by hand opening) is an evidence that it means spending on the Halal. Focusing the prohibition on the total opening of the hand is an evidence that the forbiddance is focused on that which exceeds the allowed hand opening, thus the prohibition is focused on spending on the Haram.

This is in regard to the evidence. With regard to the reality of spending, and the evaluation that a person overspent or not, this depends on the standard of living in his country. In those countries where the individuals do not satisfy their basic needs completely, one’s spending on the luxuries would be considered a high level of spending, as it is the case in many Islamic countries. But there are countries in which the individual satisfies his basic needs completely, and also satisfies his luxuries, which with the advancement in urbanisation have become, basic needs for Him like the fridge, washing machine, car and the like. So his spending on these luxuries would not be considered a high level of spending. Therefore, using prodigality and squandering in their linguistic meaning would mean that the divine rule considers any spending in excess of the basic needs as Haram. Thus buying a fridge, a washing machine or a car is Haram since it is in excess to the basic needs. Or the divine rule would consider spending on these luxuries as Haram in some countries or on some people and Halal in some countries or on some people. This would mean that the divine rule changes in the same case without a reason (Illah), which is not allowed, as the divine rule of the same issue should never change. Moreover, when Allah (swt) allowed using and consuming things, He defined this in absolute terms without restricting the spending to being little or great. So how then can a high level of spending be considered Haram? Had Allah (swt) prohibited high levels of spending in the Halal things, and had He made these things Halal, this would mean that He had allowed and prohibited the same thing at the same time.

This would mean that Allah (swt) had allowed using a private plane, but He prohibited using it if its purchase by a person was considered a high level of spending. This would be a contradiction which is not allowed. Therefore, the explanation of prodigality and squandering by their linguistic meaning is not allowed, they should rather be explained by their divine (Shar’i) meaning which came in the verses through the interpretation of some of the Companions and trusted scholars. B. Islam prohibited the individual from luxury, considered it a sin, and He warned the luxurious ones with torture. Allah (swt) said:

“And those of the left hand: What of those of the left hand? In scorching wind and scalding water, and shadow of black smoke. Neither cool nor refreshing. For they were, before that, indulged in sinful luxury.” [Al-Waqi’a: 41-45]

i.e. they were arrogant, who do what they wish. Allah (swt) also said:

“Till when We grasp the (town’s) luxurious ones with punishment, behold! They started to supplicate.” [Al-Mu’minun: 64]

The luxurious ones here means the arrogant tyrants. Allah (swt) said also:

“And We sent not unto any township a warner, but its luxurious ones declared: Lo! We are disbelievers in that which you bring to us.” [Saba’a:34] The luxurious ones are those who are haughty (arrogant) towards the believers because of their high level of wealth and children. Allah (swt) said:

“The wrongdoers followed that by which they were made surrounded with luxury.” [Hud: 116]

What is meant by those who were surrounded with luxury is that they turned towards their whims i.e. followed their whims. Allah (swt) said:

“And when We would destroy a township We send commandment to its tyrant folk (luxurious ones) and afterward, they commit abomination therein.” [Al-Isra: 16]

What is meant by tyrant folk is their tyrants who live at ease. Allah (swt) said:

“We made them luxurious in the worldly life” [Al-Mu’minun: 33]

that is We made them insist on their tyranny out of their arrogance i.e. We made them arrogant.

Luxury (Taraf) linguistically means vanity and arrogance due to living a life of ease and comfort.When we say wealth made somebody luxurious, we mean it made Him arrogant and corrupted him. That the person became luxurious means that He insisted on tyranny. He also transgressed and became haughty. Thereupon the luxury (Taraf) which the Qur’an condemned, and Allah (swt) prohibited and considered a sin is the Taraf that linguistically means haughtiness and arrogance due to ease of living, but not the ease of living itself. Therefore it is wrong to interpret Taraf as enjoying the wealth and ease of living by that which Allah (swt) provided, because ease of living and enjoying the provision of Allah are not condemned by Shari’ah. Allah (swt) said:

“Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has brought for His servants and the good things of His provision?” [Al-A’raf: 32]

At-Tirmidhi narrated from Abdullah ibn Amr who said: ‘The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Allah likes to see the signs of His favour (bounties) on His servant,’” i.e. He loves for His servants to enjoy His favour and enjoy the good things He has provided for him. But Allah (swt) hates the haughtiness, arrogance and transgression that may result from a life of ease. So Allah (swt) hates the life of ease if it produced haughtiness, transgression, arrogance and tyranny. Since a life of ease and comfort by the abundant wealth could lead some people to arrogance, tyranny and haughtiness; that is it creates Taraf in them, Islam prohibited that type of luxury. So Islam prevented corruption if it resulted from the abundance of wealth and children, making people arrogant and tyrannical. Islam prohibited that strongly. So when it is said that Taraf is Haram it does not mean the life of ease is Haram, it rather means that arrogance which results from the easy use of wealth is Haram, as Taraf would mean linguistically, and as luxury (Taraf) would mean from the verses of the Qur’an.

C. Islam prohibited the individual from being niggardly towards himself and preventing himself from legal enjoyment. It also made Halal the enjoyment of the good provision and the use of suitable ornaments. Allah (swt) said:

“And let not your hand be chained to your neck, nor open it with complete opening lest you sit down rebuked, derided.” [Al-Isra: 29] And Allah (swt) said:

“And those who, when they spend, are neither prodigal nor miserly, and there is ever a firm station between the two (situations).” [Al-Furqan: 67] And Allah (swt) also said:

“Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has brought for His servants and the good things of His provision.” [Al-A’raf: 32]

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Allah loves to see the sign of His favour on His servant”, narrated by At-Tirmidhi. The Prophet (pbuh) said also: “If Allah gave you property, let Him see the sign of His bounties and dignity on you”, narrated by Al-Hakim from the father of Abu Al-Ahwas. So if someone has property and was miserly when spending on himself, He would be sinful in the sight of Allah. But if He was miserly towards those He is responsible to support, then beside his sin in the sight of Allah, He must be obliged by the State to spend on his relatives whom He is responsible to spend on, and to make sure that his spending on them is ample so that they are provided with a good standard of living. Allah (swt) said:

“Let the wealthy (person) spend out of his capacity.” [At-Talaq: 7] And Allah (swt) said:

“Lodge them where you dwell, according to your wealth, and harass them not so as to make life harsh for them.” [At-Talaq: 6]

If the person was miserly towards those whom He was responsible to support, then those who are entitled for financial support (Nafaqah) have the right to take from his property the amount which normally meets their needs. Bukhari and Ahmad both narrated from Aisha that Hind bint Utbah said: “O Messenger of Allah, Abu Sufyan is a miserly person, and He does not give me that which is enough for me and my children except that which I take without his knowledge.” The Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Take that which is normally enough for you and your children.”’ So the Prophet (pbuh) made it a right for her to take that Nafaqah by herself without his knowledge if He did not give it to her, because Nafaqah is a duty upon him. And the judge is bound to assign to her this Nafaqah. As it is obligatory that the person who is responsible to pay the Nafaqah, it is likewise obligatory upon the one who takes the nafaqah to spend it on the matters for which it was paid. So if the Nafaqah was decided to the children, and it was paid to their guardian, whether a mother, grandmother or others, then she has to spend it on them; and if she did not do that then the judge would oblige her to spend it for that purpose.