Mushkilat al-Saraf fi al-Mujtama al-Muslim wa Ilajuha fi Daw al-Islam
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- Editions
- Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Mushkilat al-Saraf fi al-Mujtama al-Muslim wa Ilajuha fi Daw al-Islam (The Problem of Extravagance in Muslim Society and Its Remedy in the Light of Islam) is a contemporary socio-religious study written by the Saudi scholar Abdullah al-Turayqi. Completed on 20 Rabi al-Thani 1419 AH (August 1998 CE), the work examines the phenomenon of overspending, prodigality, and luxury in contemporary Muslim societies—particularly within the Arabian Gulf region—and outlines religious, educational, and social solutions based on Islamic principles of moderation.
Composition and Purpose
The study was prepared with the encouragement and support of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Dawah and Guidance in Saudi Arabia. Al-Turayqi framed extravagance (al-saraf / al-israf) and squandering (al-tabdhir) as socio-economic ailments that threaten nations with luxury, vanity, and eventual ruin. He noted that while human nature is instinctively inclined toward accumulating wealth and satisfying worldly desires, Islam directs this instinct by encouraging lawful earnings and moderate expenditure, rejecting both excessive spending and stinginess (al-bukhl and al-shuhh).
Methodology and Structure
The book relies primarily on descriptive and analytical methods to examine the theoretical dimensions of the problem, supplemented by practical observations and examples drawn from contemporary social life.
The work is organized into an introductory overview, five main chapters, and a conclusion:
- Introduction (Tamhid): Explores the concept of balance and moderation (wasatiyyah) in Islam across legal, creedal, and moral spheres.
- Chapter 1: Defines the linguistic and legal concepts of extravagance (al-saraf) and related terms.
- Chapter 2: Reviews scriptural evidence on extravagance from the Quran, the prophetic Sunnah, and the sayings of scholars and sages.
- Chapter 3: Categorizes the types and practical domains in which extravagance manifests.
- Chapter 4: Details the negative consequences and harms of extravagance on individuals and society.
- Chapter 5: Analyzes the remedies for the problem, distinguishing between practical avenues (wasa'il)—classified into religious, educational, cultural, media, and self-directed channels—and methodological approaches (asalib), including diagnosis, setting a good example, moral upbringing (tarbiyah), encouragement and deterrence (al-targhib wa-al-tarhib), and forbidding wrongdoing (al-inkar).
- Conclusion (Khatimah): Focuses on censuring artificial pretense (al-takalluf) and warning against its dangers.
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