Al Shu‘arā’

وَلاَ تُطِيعُوا أَمْرَ الْمُسْرِفِينَ

الَّذِينَ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ يُصْلِحُونَ

151. “And do not obey the bidding of the extravagant,”
152. “Those who make mischief in the earth, and amend not.”

Immoderation is a kind of corruption, and a spendthrift is a mischief monger and a corrupter. You must not expect any improvement from the painless persons who live in welfare, since improvement comes into being only under the light of the Divine prophets’ school. So, these couple of verses imply that the extravagant should not be obeyed, and those who are corrupters must not be expected improvement from. The verses say as follows:

Of course, we know that extravagance is the same as exceeding the limits of law, the law of creation and the law of religion. This is also clear for all that in a correct system any exceeding the limit causes corruption and destruction; and in other words, the origin of corruption is extravagance and the consequence of extravagance is mischief. Of course, it should be noted that extravagance has a vast meaning. Sometimes it is used in simple issues like eating and drinking.¹

Sometimes it is in spendthrift and too much remittal.² Sometimes it is in judgment and judiciary arbitration which leads to falsehood.³ Sometimes it is in one’s beliefs, which leads to doubt and skepticism, (as it is in Surah Al-Qafir, No. 40, verse 34, where /musrif/ (extravagant) and /murtab/ (doubter) have come with together). Sometimes it has been used in the sense of self-superiority, arrogance, and exploitation, (as in Surah Ad-Dukhan, No. 44, verse 31 the Qur’an says about Pharaoh:

And, finally, sometimes it has been applied to any sin and fault, (as in Surah Az-Zumar, No. 39, verse 53 the Qur’an says:

Regarding to what was said, thus the relation between extravagance and corruption was made manifest well. According to the statement of ‘Allamah Tabataba’i in Al-Mizan, the world of existence is wholly order, righteousness, and benefit and, even with the contrast which may sometimes be seen in its parts, it contains so much agreement. This system is moving towards some righteous aims, and it arranges a particular path for each of its parts. Now, if one of these parts deviates from its orbit and paves the path of corruption, there will arise a conflict between this part and other parts of this world. If this extravagant part can be returned to its main orbit, the better, otherwise they will destroy it so that the system can continue its own way.

Man, who is one of the parts of this world of existence, is not an exception from this general law. If he goes forth according to his nature and be harmonious with the system of creation, he will attain the prosperous aim that has been determined for him, but if he exceeds his limits and steps in the path of corruption and mischief in the earth, at first Allah warns him by punishing him with grievous and painful events, as Surah Ar-Rum, No. 30, verse 41 says:

But if this could not be effective and corruption has influenced into the depth of his self, Allah will wipe out the face of the earth from the dirt of the existence of such a person by the punishment of ’Istisal.⁴ (It is the Divine punishment which comes for the incorrigible people to annihilate them to which no prayer is beneficial at this time) Thus, it makes fairly clear that why Allah has mentioned ‘extravagance’ and ‘corruption in the land’ and the lack of improvement in the above mentioned verses in the same row.

Some Traditions Upon Extravagance and Corruption

1- Amir-ul-Mu’mineen, Ali (as), said:

“Extravagance is blameworthy in all things, except in the righteous deeds.” ⁵

2- There is a tradition recorded in Al-Kafi and the Commentary of ‘Ayyashi which is narrated from Imam Sadiq (as) who said to a man:

“Be in awe of Allah and be not extravagant nor (take the life) strait (for yourself) and move between them; verily squandering is of the extravagances as Allah has said:

3- Imam Sadiq (as) once said:

“Verily, extravagance is accompanied with scanty of bounty.” ⁸

4- The Prophet (S) once passed by Sa‘d while he was making ablution, then he (S) told him:

“What is this extravagance (using too much water), O’ Sa‘d?”

He said:

“Is there extravagance even in ablution?”

The Prophet (S) answered:

“Yes, even if you are by a spring.”

5- Imam Sadiq (as) has said:

“The outside corruption originates from the inside corruption. Whoever improves his inside, Allah will improve his outside, and whoever proves treacherous with Allah in secret, Allah will make his secret manifest in outside.” ⁹

6- Amir-ul-Mu’mineen, Ali (as) says:

“Being unjust to the servants of Allah causes the Hereafter to be corrupted.” ¹⁰

7- The holy Prophet (S) said:

“How will be your situation when your wives are corrupted and your youths are mischievous and you do not enjoin what is good and do not forbid what is wrong?...” ¹¹

8- Imam Amir-ul-Mu’mineen Ali (as) said:

“Avoid any speech and action that causes the corruption of (your) Hereafter and religion.” ¹²