Among the Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) in Allah's Great Book in this regard is His Saying: The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people) AlMa'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid (people) from AlMunkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden); they perform AsSalât (IqâmatasSalât), and give the Zakât, and obey Allâh and His Messenger. Allâh will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allâh is AllMighty, AllWise.
These are some of the morals and characteristics of the believing men and women. They help, protect, and support one another. They do not envy, cheat, betray, insult, or call each other by offensive nicknames. They do not slander or do anything that may hurt or cause feuds, enmity, and division; instead they love and advise and exhort one another to do good for Allah's Sake. They, therefore, enjoin the good and forbid the evil amongst them. Such is the behavior of the believing men and women.
With these manners societies prosper and affairs are straightened. In addition to this, the believers perform Salah (Prayer) as prescribed by Allah, in a state of tranquility, Khushu' (the heart being attuned to the act of worship), and devotion; in its due time; and fulfilling its conditions, pillars, and obligations. They perform it as Allah has prescribed, each in its due time.
They pay Zakah (obligatory charity) and give it to its rightful recipients, as Allah commands it saying: and obey Allâh and His Messenger. Also characteristic of the believers, both men and women, that they obey Allah and His Messenger in all matters.
These are the means to happiness and salvation. Therefore, I advise you and also myself to have Taqwa (fearing Allah as He should be feared) and adhere to and reflect upon these principles. As I also advise you to adhere to the Book of Allah, the Noble Qur'an, and reflect upon it, frequently recite it, and act upon it. It is the Book of Allah which falsehood cannot approach it from before it or behind it. It is a revelation from the AllWise Lord, Worthy of all praise. About His Book, Allah (may He be Praised) says: Verily, this Qur'ân guides to that which is most just and right and He (may He be Exalted and Glorified) says: And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur'an) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allâh as Muslims). He (Exalted be He) also says: (This is) a Book (the Qur'ân) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.
I advise women to recite, and reflect and act upon this Noble Book. Those women who are able to recite it from memory, should thank Allah for it, and can recite it by heart whenever they want to; while walking, sitting, lying down, or whatever their state is. Those women who need a Mushaf (Qur'anBook) to recite from while in a state of Taharah (ritual purification) must understand and ponder the Ayahs (verses) that include guidance and light, and is a call to all that is good. This Book encourages high moral standards and the best of deeds and warns against bad morals and misdeeds.
I also advise women to adhere to the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace be upon him) and be keen, among yourselves, to listen to the Hadith from: "Riyadh AlSalihin", "Bulugh AlMaram", and "Muntaqa AlAkhbar", as well as other reliable Hadith Books, such as the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. AlBukhari and Muslim), and the four Sunan (Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes).
All Muslims of the world are advised to study the Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him), which invite to true guidance and give explanation to the Qur'an and show its meaning. Anyone who reads books will benefit, and among the recommended books: "Riyadh AlSalihin", "Bulugh AlMaram", "Muntaqa AlAkhbar", and "'Umdat AlHadith"; these are all good and beneficial, great books.
If a woman is illiterate, her children, sister, or brother can read these books to her in regularly held sessions so she can gain benefit, cooperate in good, and acquire religious knowledge.
I ask Allah by His Names to guide us and you to do good, grant us understanding of His Religion, help us to remain steadfast to it, and to provide us and you with more beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds. The subject of this meeting is consumption and the wastefulness and extravagance that results from it. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) revealed some Ayahs (verses) in His Book that speak of wastefulness and extravagance and the prohibition of them, and other Ayahs that praise people who practice economy and moderation in the consumption of food, drinks, and other expenditures.
There should be no wastefulness or squandering, no miserliness or niggardliness, no extravagance or avoidance. Rather, a middle course is to be pursued in all matters as Allah has ordained. Under this heading also falls excess in religion, as servants are forbidden from going to extremes in religion. The Prophet (peace
be upon him) said, "Beware of exceeding the limits in religion, for those who preceded you were destroyed because of exceeding the limits in religion."
Allah (may He be Praised) says: O people of the Scripture (Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion This prohibition from Allah is not only addressed to them, but to us as well. Heedlessness and negligence are also forbidden in Islam, as a Muslim is obligated to perform the obligations, avoid the prohibitions, and hasten to do the good, without exceeding the limits or being heedless.
Exceeding the limits in practicing of religion is to exceed what Allah has ordained. For example, when someone does not feel satisfied performing the Islamically prescribed Wudu' (ablution) and do more than the necessary and squander water. They are not satisfied with just washing their hands or feet three times, so they do more than this. This is a form of exceeding the limits prescribed by Allah. The same is true with the other acts of worship, such as the Adhan (call to Prayer), the Iqamah (call to start the Prayer), Sawm (Fasting), and others.
Doing what exceeds the prescribed in the Shari'ah (Islamic law) is called exaggeration, immoderation and Bid'ah (innovation in religion). On the other hand, negligence in Salah by performing it incompletely or imperfectly is called heedlessness and omission. The same applies to Sawm (Fasting), when not protecting it against sins, such as committing Namimah (talebearing), Ghibah (backbiting), bad language and actions, all of which are considered to be negligence and makes the Sawm deficient.
Examples of exceeding the limits during Sawm include not speaking or not sitting with people. Rather, we must perform Salah and Sawm as Allah has prescribed and avoid what is Haram (prohibited), and to exhibit the same discipline in expenditure; we should neither be extravagant nor spendthrift, neither miserly nor stingy. Between these two extremes is the middle, which is the best course of action. Allah (may He be Praised) says: Thus We have made you [true Muslims real believers of Islâmic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ and his Sunnah (legal ways)], a just (and the best) nation
Moderation in all matters is enjoined by the Shari'ah, without committing extremism, negligence, or rigorism. Allah (may He be Praised) says: O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying and going round (the Tawâf of) the Ka'bah, and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allâh) likes not Al Musrifûn (those who waste by extravagance). Allah has ordered us to wear good clothes that cover the 'Awrah (private parts of the body that must be covered in public) and look beautiful. He (Exalted be He) says: O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts) and as an adornment
Thus, Allah has created for us clothes that cover our 'Awrah, and over and above that beautiful clothes for adorning ourselves and looking groomed among others, then He (may He be Praised) says: and the raiment of righteousness, that is better. The raiment of righteousness means having Iman (Faith) and Taqwa (fearing Allah as He should be feared) through obeying Allah, following what pleases Him, and avoiding what He has forbidden. This is the best attire and the raiment of righteousness.
Allah (may He be Praised) says: and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance He orders us to eat and drink to the extent necessary to maintain health and safety, and develop the body, as refraining from eating and drinking would lead to death. It is, therefore, permissible to eat and drink, in fact it is obligatory to eat and drink moderately to maintain health. A human being should be moderate in this to maintain themselves, they should neither overeat until they suffer from indigestion or other illnesses or pain, or be neglectful to the extent that would be harmful to health; they should be in between these two states. This is why Allah says: but waste not by extravagance
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "The son of Adam fills no vessel worse than stomach. Sufficient for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls to keep their back straight; but if it is inevitable, then onethird should be for food, onethird for drink and onethird for their breath."
This Hadith Sahih (a Hadith that has been transmitted by people known for their uprightness and exactitude; free from eccentricity and blemish) shows that extravagance in food and eating too much is undesirable and dangerous to health. A few morsels in the morning, evening, or at other times when food and drink are needed would be enough for humans to maintain their health and give them strength.
If it is inevitable for one to exceed this, then it must be without extravagance. One third of the stomach should be for food, onethird for drink, and onethird for breath, rest, reading, reciting the Qur'an and Adhkar (invocations and Remembrances said at certain times on a regular basis), social activities, talking to people, and other matters. Extravagance is excess, and leads to satiety in case of food, wasting and misuse of money in case of clothing, and to regrettable consequences and saying sinful words in case of speaking.