Wasteful Wealth (Golden Words of Allah Episode 76)

“And give the relative his right, and the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils.” (Surah Al-Isra, 17:26–27)

By Abdullahi Yusuf

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All perfect praise is due to Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, the Lord of the Worlds. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and Muhammad (pbuh), is His slave and final Messenger.

Wealth in Islam, is never condemned in itself. It is neither praised nor blamed for its amount, but judged by how it is earned, how it is spent and what it does to the heart. A believer may possess little or much, yet remain successful or ruined depending on his relationship with what Allah has placed in his hands.

Allah reminds us that wealth is a trust, not ownership in Surah Al-Hadid, 57:7. “Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend from that which He has made you trustees over.” The wording is deliberate: trustees do not dispose as they wish; they act with responsibility and awareness of accountability.

The everyday Human often interacts with money casually, earning without reflection, spending without restraint and also consuming without gratitude. Yet the Prophet (pbuh) taught that the source of wealth matters deeply. He said: “No flesh nourished by haram will enter Paradise.” (Reported by al-Tabarani). Halal earning is not a minor detail of faith; it is its foundation. A prayer raised by hands fed with unlawful wealth struggles to rise to the heavens.

But earning halal is only half the journey. How wealth is spent reveals the condition of the soul. Allah warns strongly against waste and extravagance, calling those who squander resources “brothers of the devils.” Waste is not limited to luxury; it includes excess in the ordinary, buying what is not needed, discarding what can be used, spending to impress and consuming to satisfy pride rather than need.

The Prophet (pbuh) lived simply, even when wealth became available to him. He warned against extravagance even in acts of worship, saying: “Do not waste water, even if you are at a flowing river.”(Ibn Majah). If waste is forbidden in purity, how much more in indulgence?

Extravagance often walks hand in hand with pride. Wealth, when unchecked can quietly shift the heart from gratitude to entitlement. The Qur’an recounts the arrogance of Qarun, who attributed his wealth to personal brilliance rather than divine favour, and was swallowed by the earth as a lesson for all who mistake provision for superiority. “Do not exult. Indeed, Allah does not like the exultant.” (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:76).

The believer, however, views wealth as a means not an identity. Spending becomes an act of worship when done with intention, balance, and care. Charity purifies wealth, moderation protects the soul, and humility preserves faith. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Wealth does not decrease by charity.” (Sahih Muslim). What is given for Allah multiplies; what is hoarded with pride diminishes, even if the numbers grow.

On the Day of Judgment, wealth will not be admired, it will be questioned. The Prophet (pbuh) said that a servant’s feet will not move until he is asked about his wealth: how he earned it and how he spent it. This is not meant to instill fear alone, but awareness. Every coin carries a story, and every transaction leaves a trace.

May Allah grant us wealth that benefits, hands that give without arrogance, hearts that remain humble with provision that brings us closer to Him and not to stray further away. Amin

And Allah knows best.

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