Inviting Reflections: Qur’an on Wasting Resources (31).

Israf:?????   is a verbal noun from the trilateral root: ??? which means wasting (the resources), to show off in spending, un-necessary expenditures, to cross the limits, to transgress, etc. Allah does not like those who practice Israf in their daily routines of life. Holy Qur’an has employed this word frequently and forbidden us from performing Israf in our day-to-day affairs of life. The following few verses show that the root: ??? and its derivations have various applications in language along with a wide-range of nuances and meanings; which is a peculiarity of Arabic language not shared by other world languages.

Allah says:

 " ????? ????? ?????????? ??????? ??? ???????? ???????? ??????? ????? ?????????? ????????????? ???? ????????? ????????? ???????????? ??????????? ????? ????????? ?????????????".                                                                              

(Their (believers’) only words were, "Our Lord, forgive us our offences, and our excesses: ???????  in our conduct, and strengthen our foothold, and help us against the disbelieving people(. Surah: 3, Verse: 147.                                                  

   "??????? ??? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ? ????? ???????????? ? ???????? ??? ??????? ?????????????".

(Eat of its fruit when it yields, and give its due on the day of its harvest, and do not waste. He does not love the wasteful). Surah: 6, Verse: 141.  

 " ????????? ??????? ??????? ??????????? ????? ????? ???????? ????????? ???????????? ????? ???????????? ? ???????? ??? ??????? ??????????????".

            (O Children of Adam! Dress properly at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but do not be excessive. He does not love the transgressors). Surah: 7, Verse: 31.

 " ??????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????????? ?????? ??????????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????????".                                 

 (And those who, when they spend, are neither wasteful nor stingy, but choose a middle course between that). Surah: 25, Verse: 67.

"???????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????. ??? ?????????? ? ???????? ????? ???????? ?????  ??????????????".                                                                                                                                   (And We saved the Children of Israel from the humiliating persecution. From Pharaoh, who was a tyrant and a transgressor). Surah: 44, Verse: 30-31.

 Wasting of Water.

The most celebrated lexicographer of the Arabic language: Ibn Manzur in his Arabic Dictionary: Lisan al-‘Arab explains the word: ??? and ????? that:  "??? ????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ? ?? ???"(Sarf and Israf is that wastage of water when it is not used for irrigation or in order to benefit someone (of the living organisms). He further explains Israf  by quoting an Arabic proverb:

"????: ???? ????? ????? ? ??? ???? ????? ????".                                               

(It is said that the well has irrigated the palm-orchid and rest of the water was wasted i.e. without any proper use). See for details: Lisan al-‘Arab: "???" .

So one of the meanings of Israf is wastage; and Allah dislikes it. This meaning is further verified and authenticated when the most eloquent Arab, our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used this word. It is reported in Musnad Ahmad b. Hunbal (Hadith # 6768) and Sunan of Ibn Maja (Hadith # 419) that Muhammad, peace be upon him, passed by Sa’ad (R.A) who was performing ablution. Muhammad, peace be upon him, saw him and exclaimed: 

"?? ??? ????? ?? ????  ???: ? ?? ?????? ????  ???: ???. ? ?? ??? ??? ??? ???".

(“O Sa’ad! Why you are wasting so much water? Sa’ad (R.A) asked: Excessive use of water in ablution is wasting of water? Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: Yes it is wasting of water even if you are doing it and you are on (the bank of) a flowing river”).

Since decades the water of Rivers: Indus, Jhelum, Ravi and Chenab is being wasted and thrown in the sea. The Rulers of Pakistan, Power Mongers, People of Vested Interests and People of Pakistan will be accountable before Allah for this wastage on the Day of Judgement.

Let us mourn the morally bankrupt  and direction-less leadership of the Ummah and pray to Allah All Mighty to bestow on us honest, selfless and visionary leadership. An Urdu poet has depicted the current saddening and gloomy situation in a realistic way:

?......    ????? ?????? ??? ?? ????                                                          

?????? ??? ??? ?????? ????                                                                      

Allah has reminded us:

“?????????????? ??????????? ????????????”

(Therefore, take a lesson, O you who have insight). Surah: 59, Verse: 2.