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Extravagance can be shortly defined as the condition of going or being beyond what is needed, desired, or appropriate. It is completely in contrast with that of frugality. Frugality has the meaning of being frugal, sparing, thrifty, prudent or economical in the use of consumable resources such as food, time or money, avoiding waste, lavishness or extravagance.
In this comparison, we should try to understand the value of resources mentioned above. Who is the creator of time? Who is sending us countless types of food and many other blessings? Are they all for free?
We have twenty four hours in a day. How many hours do we really spend effectively? Do we really feel and believe that our life is worth living? Do we really live in the awareness of happenings and perfections all around the world or are we just let things slide? Do we have a contract which says we are going to live forever? How many pages of a book are we reading in a day or how many hours we spend for unnecessary TV series or multimedia?
Most of us work hard maybe for 8 hours a day in
order to gain some money to supply our needs and mostly we get little profit and we feel we need to work more and more. If asked “Are you a slave?” We would say “Of course I am not.” This shows us the hardship in getting livelihood. Nothing is sold for free.
Considering all those equations, I am questioning myself about the priceless properties that I have in my life from birth till now. I asked many questions to myself some of them are as the following: Are they accidentally in my hand or are they given by someone else? Or most importantly Are they for free?
The answer is so clear “No.”
So who is the sustainer of my life and what price does He, the Creator, the Owner of all beings and blessings, Allah the All mighty, want in return for those blessings?
“The price the True Bestower of Bounties wants in return for those valuable bounties and goods is three things: one is remembrance, one is thanks, and one is reflection. Saying, “In the Name of Allah” at the start is remembrance, and, “All praise be to Allah” at the end is thanks. And perceiving and thinking of those bounties, which are valuable wonders of art, being miracles of power of the Unique and Eternally Besought One and gifts of His mercy, is reflection. However foolish it is to kiss the foot of a lowly man who conveys to you the valuable gift of a king and not to recognize the gift’s owner, to praise and love the apparent source of bounties and forget the True Bestower of Bounties is a thousand times more foolish.”(The Words-First Word Bediuzzaman Said Nursi- from the Risale-I Nur Collection)
Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran: “ Eat and drink, but be not prodigal. Lo! He loveth not the prodigals.” (Surah Al-Araf, 31)
Allah’s Apostle (pbuh) says “He is not one of us, who sleeps the night while his neighbor is hungry.”
In terms of our properties, time and money, Islam prohibits wasting any of those belongings and sources. Instead of wasting, frugality must be taken into account seriously. If we do so, we are in such a mistake that our attitude will be a disrespectful response to Allah and what He gives us as blessings, so this will cause us to lose them. If we take the way of remembrance, thanks and reflection, it will ascend our blessings and will leave peace in our hearts all the time.