1264 – ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb narrates from his father, from his grandfather (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Eat, drink, dress, and give charity, but without extravagance (saraf) and without conceit (makhīlah).” Reported by Abū Dāwūd, Aḥmad, and recorded by al-Bukhārī in suspended form (1).

Degree of authenticity
The ḥadith is sound (ṣaḥīḥ). Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar, in Fatḥ al-Bārī at the start of the Book of Garments, attributed it to Abū Dāwūd al-Ṭayālisī and to al-Ḥārith ibn Abī Usāmah in their Musnads, and to Ibn Abī al-Dunyā in al-Shukr. According to Ibn Ḥajar’s method it is ḥasan or ṣaḥīḥ, for he cited it among the chapter’s supplementary reports. Al-Ḥākim declared it authentic, and al-Mundhirī said: “Its narrators are trustworthy and relied upon by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.”

Vocabulary
• saraf (extravagance): al-Naḥḥās said, “The best explanation of saraf is spending on what is not obedience to Allah, Exalted is He.” Al-ʿAynī added, “Saraf is to use something in its proper place, but to excess, whereas tabdhīr (wastefulness) is to use something where it does not belong.”
• makhīlah (conceit): pride, arrogance, self-admiration.

Lessons derived from the ḥadith
1 – Allah, majestic and exalted, has permitted His servants the wholesome things of provision: food and drink,