Avoiding waste

Failure to appreciatethe blessings of Allah, spending inconsiderately or squandering is waste, against which Allah warns:

Give your relatives their due, and the very poor and travelers but do not squander what you have. Squanderers are brothers to the satans, and satan was ungrateful to his Lord. (Surat al-Isra’; 26-27)

Indifference to the multitude of blessings provided by Allah shows a lack of gratitude to Him. As stated in the Qur’an, ingratitude is an attribute of satan; therefore, those who are ungrateful to Allah by wasting provisions become “brothers of the devils”or followers of satan. While blessings should logically increase one’s gratitude to Allah, wasting them shows ingratitude, an attitude that may deprive one of His mercy and blessings in the Hereafter.

Paradise is a place of glory adorned with the infinite and perfect blessings of Allah. However, it is unlikely that a person who remains insensitive to a multitude of blessings in this world can adequately appreciate the blessings of Paradise and praise Allah. To deserve Paradise, a person must first appreciate what Allah has given him while still in this world.

Although one may avoid major wastefulness, carelessness with small things, their misuse, harm or failure to preserve them are considered ingratitude as well. A believer must be especially meticulous in such matters for fear of being ungrateful to Allah’s blessings.

Allah wants His servants to benefit from His blessings in the best manner, although they should avoid waste:

Children of Adam! Wear fine clothing in every mosque and eat and drink but do not be profligate. He does not love the profligate. (Surat al-A‘raf; 31)