Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (may Allaah have
mercy on him) said:
The difference between economization and
stinginess is that the former is a praiseworthy attribute, which originates
from two characters: justice and wisdom. So as a result of justice, a person
will be reasonable in withholding and spending; and because of wisdom, he will
put each of them in its rightful place that suit it. Therefore, economization
originates from both of them and it is the middle course between the two
blameworthy extremes as stated by Allah: “And let not your hand be tie (like a miser)
to your neck nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach (like a spendthrift), so
that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty.” [Soorah Al-Israa’:
29]
Allah the exalted also said: “And
those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a
medium (way) between those (extremes).” [Soorah Al-Furqaan: 67). Elsewhere,
He said: “O the child of Aadam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes),
while praying and eat and drink and waste not in extravagance.” [Soorah
al-A‘raaf: 31]
Stinginess is a blameworthy character that
results from evil thought and weakness of the soul, and the promise of Shaytaan
reinforces them until he becomes restless, one with intense desire for
something that contains evil. Therefore, it will result to withholding from expending
it and discontent due to losing it as Allah said: “Verily, man was created very
impatient; irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; and niggardly when
good touches him.” [Soorah Al-Ma‘aarij: 19-21]
Source: Ar-Rooh by Imaam Ibn Qayyim
al-Jawziyyah; translated by Abdus-Samee Abdus-Salaam.
