concerns what is unlawful, because people have not been commanded to renounce what has been made lawful for them. Rather, they are rewarded for acquiring it if they exercise scrupulousness in doing so, receiving a reward unavailable to those who forgo earning. They said: Enjoying lawful things has benefits that one may not renounce. These include the reward for carefully ascertaining their lawfulness, exercising scrupulousness in acquiring them, and thanking Allah for them. Another is that enjoying lawful things safeguards a person against what is unlawful: someone who eats good food and wears soft clothing, then sees others enjoying the same, will not be prompted to envy them or seek such things through unlawful means. They supported their view by citing the wealth that some of the Prophet’s Companions—peace and blessings be upon him—left behind, except that it is not inherited. They said: If asceticism concerned lawful things, none of these men would have left any wealth behind. Thus, this group did not distinguish between asceticism and scrupulousness, but treated them as one and the same.
My position on this is that asceticism differs from scrupulousness, and that asceticism concerns lawful things, not unlawful ones. Abstaining from what is unlawful is obligatory, so someone who does so is not on that account described as one who renounces this world. Asceticism is the disposition that moves a person of means to give generously from his wealth for Allah’s sake, Mighty and Majestic, beyond what is obligatory upon him: supporting relatives, freeing slaves, establishing an endowment in Allah’s cause, building a mosque, giving a gift or charity, establishing an endowment, and similar acts. This remains so even if he does not expend all his wealth in this way, or retains some of it to support himself and his dependants, and even if he eats good food, drinks pleasant beverages, and wears soft clothing, without extravagance or stinginess. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has encouraged this in His words:
“And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor stingy, but hold a balance between the two.” [al-Furqān: 67]
Mālik, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked about the meaning of His words, Mighty and Majestic:
“But do not forget your share of this world. And do good as Allah has done good to you.” [al-Qasas: 77]
He explained that this means living in this world, eating and drinking without stinting oneself, while making provision for whatever opportunities for good one may encounter, and for fear that one’s life may be prolonged until one becomes dependent