Extravagance and Wastefulness, Synonyms and Contemporary Meaning: A Research Analysis In The Light Of the Opinions of the Commentators

Abstract

Israf and Tabdheer are serious moral and social maladies condemned in the Quran and Hadith. They refer to the misuse of wealth, squandering, and exceeding divinely set limits. Israf means transgression beyond the limit in any action, though it is most commonly used in the context of expenditure. Scholars like Imam Raghib Al-Isfahani define it as "exceeding the limit in everything a person does." It encompasses both overspending on permissible things and spending on what is unlawful. Tabdheer means to squander and waste wealth. Imam Ibn Manthur defines it as spoiling and spending wealth wastefully. It is specifically associated with spending in disobedience to God or spending to the point of impoverishment. The difference between Israf and Tabdheer is that Israf is exceeding a limit, even in something permissible (like eating too much food), while Tabdheer is spending wealth in outright wrong, useless, or sinful purposes. Both are forbidden, but Tabdheer is considered more severe. The Quran commands: "Eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess." (Quran 7:31). Exegetes explain this as a command for moderation and a warning against declaring the permissible forbidden or vice versa. The text provides modern examples of Israf and Tabdheer to avoid: Wasting food at banquets and restaurants, buying excessive clothing and luxury items for fashion and show, the unnecessary consumption of water, electricity, and natural resources,e travagant spending on ceremonies like weddings, ostentatious spending for social media display, squandering time on frivolous activities and irresponsible use of credit cards.

Keywords: Israf, Tabdheer, Extravagance, Wastefulness, Misuse of Wealth, Overspending