Squandering

Principally, there are two types of squandaring. The first type is spending more than necessary in an avenue where a person must spend. This surplus is wasting. And this type of wasting is called Is-raaf and it is Haraam. There is a second type of squandering; that is, spending one’s money in an avenue where it is not even permissible to spend.

Example 

For example, a person spends his money at the casino, in horseracing, buying movies, going to the cinema, in singing and dancing, etc. Spending money in avenues where it is not permissible to spend is called Tabzeer.

The Qur’an-e-Kareem and wastage

The Qur’an-e-Kareem qualifies those who spend their money where it is not permissible to spend as "the brothers of Shaitaan". Thus, according to the Qur’an, those who spend their money in Haraam things are the brothers of Shaitaan.

Wastage in food and drink

We waste a lot in food and drink. For example, when we eat, we take an amount of food in our plate that we cannot eat. If we work out the amount of food that we throw away in the bin daily, we will see that this can suffice to provide for one or two more people. In a world where a great amount of people have nothing to eat, it is very sad that those who have, are wasting. Each grain of rice and every drop of water are a favour of Allah Ta’ala. We should not disregard this favour. 

When we sit down to eat, we should take a small quantity that we can eat. And if necessary, we can take a second time also. This will prevent us from wasting. We should not throw away even a grain of rice because we will have to answer for each grain of rice and every drop of water that we may have wasted. This kind of wastage can be seen especially in weddings.

Wastage of water

We have another type of wastage. It is wastage of water. Wastage of water is so bad that it is not permissible to use more than necessary, to perform Ghusl or Wuzu also.

Nowadays, we have a bad habit to let water flow more than necessary while making Wuzu in the Masjid. It is good to note that it is a very good deed to make Wuzu. But we must also know that we are committing a big mistake by using water more than necessary for this act.

Wastage in washing car

Sometimes, the heart pains when one sees the amount of water that is being wasted while washing cars. One sees that a lot of water is flowing in vain in the canal and the person is conversing with someone. We all know that it is you who will pay the water bill, but is this a reason to waste it? Definitely not!

There is another category of people that takes water from the public garden to wash his car. This one is a bit more serious because firstly, he is wasting and secondly, he is wasting water that is not his.

Wastage in illumination 

Similarly, we see a lot of illumination on occasions of weddings which is very costly. And sometimes, this lasts for a week. And according to some information, it costs around 70 to 75 thousand rupees. What use is there in spending such a big sum of money? It is madness and an inappropriate use of money. And this is completely Haraam. Sometimes, this is even seen in the Masjid also. The 'Ulama and the Fuqaha (Jurists) have all agreed that this is not permissible. It is a bad expense and it is Haraam.

[English version of "Gaspillage " – Al Jamiat – Vol.4 No.9]