Attend to your embellishments at every rime of prayer...

Attend to your embellishments at every rime of prayer, and eat and drink but don't be extravagant; Surely He (Allah) does not love the extravagant people.” (7:31) Those who waste the blessings that Allah has given to them are described as “the brothers of the satans.” (17:26-27)[^6] Muslims should manage their lives within their resources and this cannot be done unless they control their greed.

Controlling greed becomes more challenging in this era of consumerism where advertising and marketing tactics incite potential customers to buy an item as "new and improved" even if the older model still fulfills their needs. Moderation is the key in all spheres of life.

Even in the case of charity, Almighty Allah urges moderation: “...And do not make your hand shackled to your neck nor stretch it out completely lest you sit down blamed, stripped off.” (17:29) Once the Prophet saw Sa'd using excessive water for wudu (ritual ablution) for prayers.

He said, ‘Why are you wasting the water?’ Sa'd was surprised and asked, ‘There is israf even in water of wudu?’ The Prophet replied, ‘Yes; even if you are by a flowing river!’ The Prophet (s.a.w) said, Verily there are some people from my community (ummah) whose prayers will not be answered: A person who prays against his parents. A person who prays against a debtor who has taken his money/property and the creditor neither wrote down the loan agreement nor had it witnessed.

A person who prays against his wife while Allah has given him the right to divorce her by himself. A person who sits at home and prays 'O my Lord, give me sustenance' but does not go out to seek the sustenance. Allah will say, “ O My servant, did I not provide the means for you to seek and exploit the earth with healthy limbs? [If you had done this then] you would have had the excuse between Me and you for your sustenance because you followed my command.

And so that you may not be a burden on your family .”... A person who was blessed by Allah with plentiful wealth which he gave away [in charity] and now he prays, “O my Lord, give me sustenance”. Allah will say, “ Did I not give you ample wealth? Then why did you not manage it as I had ordered you? And why did you practice extravagance while 1have forbidden you from extravagance? ”.....[^7] [^1]: AI-Furu '. vol. 5. p. 87. [^2]: Tuhafu 'l-'Uqul, p. 409-410.

[^3]: Jay Ingram, "Why happiness is elusive in material world." Toronto Sun, September 14, 2003. [^4]: Tahdhibu '1-Ahkam. vol. 7. p.236.