Israf

Israf (Arabic: الإسراف, isrāf) is an Arabic term used in Islamic law, roughly translated as "extravagance" or "wasteful expenditure."

Israf is mentioned and condemned in several verses of the Qur'an (18:28, 17:27, 6:141, 25:67, and most commonly 7:31).[1] It is also referenced in numerous hadith, which are reports about the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Both the Qur'an and hadith identify Israf as a major sin.[2]

Extravagance is condemned as reprehensible behavior in the Quran, Islamic jurisprudence, and ethical discussions. Some scholars regard the prohibition of israf as a religious imperative, while others classify it as a major sin. Factors contributing to extravagance include indulging in desires, neglecting the remembrance of God, arrogance, vanity, and self-centeredness.[2] The term "israf" and its derivatives appear a total of 23 times in the Quran. Additionally, the word "tabzir," meaning the wasting of wealth, is mentioned three times across two verses and conveys a closely related concept.

Etymology and definitions

Extravagance is generally defined as exceeding the bounds of moderation, which is understood as the balance between excess and deficiency. In Islamic terminology, it specifically refers to spending wealth beyond what is reasonable or necessary, surpassing socially or religiously acceptable limits.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Tafsir Ibn Kathir (7:31)". quran.com. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b "The Thirty-Second Greater Sin: Israf". al-islam.org. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  3. ^ "«فرهنگ فقه فارسی - مؤسسه دائرة المعارف الفقه الاسلامی - کتابخانه مدرسه فقاهت»" ["Persian Jurisprudence Dictionary - Islamic Jurisprudence Encyclopedia Institute - Jurisprudence School Library"] (in Persian). Retrieved 26 March 2025.
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