What is the Legal Ruling of Wasting Money?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: What is the Islamic legal ruling on wasting money? What is defined as wasting money? Some Muslims are really unnecessarily cheap in spending and giving gifts, some are over the top in trying to save every single penny even recycling tea bags.
Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
Waste is defined as usage above and beyond the need.
You are permitted to spend your money as you see fit as long as it does not lead to falling short in fulfilling your other obligations. As for being generous, this is the sunna. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Allah is generous, He loves generosity; He is noble, He loves nobility.” [Tirmidhi]
Please see: Generosity in Ramadan – Imam Zaid Shakir – New Islamic Directions
And Allah alone gives success.
wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani