Hadith #4809

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

Extravagance is blameworthy in everything except in doing good deeds.

This impactful Hadith highlights the importance of moderation and balance in all aspects of our lives, except when it comes to performing acts of righteousness and goodness.

Let us delve deeper into the key words of this Hadith. The word (israaf) "إسْراف" refers to excessive spending or wastefulness. It implies going beyond the limits and boundaries set by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) in terms of wealth, resources, and even time. Israaf is condemned in various verses of the Quran, where Allah warns against squandering one's wealth and resources.

For instance, in Surah Al-Isra (17:27), Allah says,

And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.

This verse cautions against both miserliness and extravagance, emphasizing the importance of moderation.

Similarly, in Surah Al-A'raf (7:31), Allah warns,

O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.

Here, Allah advises us to enjoy the blessings He has bestowed upon us, but within the limits prescribed by Him.

Now, let us reflect on the second part of the Hadith, which states that extravagance is permissible when it comes to performing good deeds. This means that we should not hold back or hesitate in spending our wealth, time, and efforts for the sake of Allah and for the betterment of others.

Allah encourages acts of charity, kindness, and generosity throughout the Quran. In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:195), Allah says,

And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Hadid (57:7), Allah promises,

Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successors. For those who have believed among you and spent, there will be a great reward.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) statement reminds us that when it comes to acts of righteousness, we should not hold back or be hesitant. Instead, we should be willing to go above and beyond, using our resources and abilities to their fullest extent in order to benefit others and earn the pleasure of Allah.

For example, if we have the means to provide financial assistance to those in need, we should not hesitate to do so. If we have the knowledge and skills to teach and educate others, we should not hold back from sharing our knowledge. If we have the ability to perform acts of kindness and charity, we should not shy away from doing so.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teaches us the importance of moderation and balance in all aspects of our lives, except when it comes to performing acts of goodness and righteousness. It reminds us to be mindful of our spending and to avoid extravagance, while also encouraging us to be generous and selfless in our pursuit of good deeds. May Allah guide us all to follow the teachings of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and grant us the ability to strike the right balance in our lives.