Jumu'ah Mubarak, Honorable Believers!
It was one of the days of heat and famine in Madinah. Our Prophet (s.a.w.) went to visit one of his Companions with Abu Bakr and Omar. The Companion was extremely happy about the visit of these valuable guests since the honor of having the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) as a guest was an opportunity of mercy and blessing for him. His guests sat under a tree and he offered ripe dates and cool water to them, the most beautiful blessings he then had in his home. The Messenger of Mercy gave thanks to Allah after eating the date and drinking the water, and said: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! This is among the favors which you shall be asked about on the Day of Judgement. Cool shade, tasty ripe dates, and cool water." [1]
Honorable Believers!
Our Prophet (s.a.w.) remembered and reminded us that we are going to give account for the blessings even at times of scarcity. He taught about knowing the value of every blessing and abstaining from being wasteful both in wealth and in poverty. Because wasting is forbidden in our religion. Wasting is a lack of respect towards Allah Almighty's name, Ar-Razzaq (The Total Provider). Therefore, our Lord enjoins in the Holy Qur'an when He tells us about Muslims: "(They are) those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a just balance between those extremes."[2] Our Prophet explained that there is morality in consumption as: "Eat, clothe yourselves and give charity without being arrogant and extravagant." [3]
Esteemed Brothers and Sisters!
Wastage is to use the blessings and means we have extravagantly, to squander them away, to spend them like they will not run out. Wastage is ingratitude towards the blessings Allah Almighty granted to us and it is such a comprehensive concept that it should not be confined to our dinner tables only.
For example, the inability to combine the blessing of intellect with the blessing of wisdom and faith is the greatest waste for a human. To squander away this very short life of ours with futile activities that do not benefit us in this world and in the Hereafter is the waste of time. To put our body and mind in danger with bad habits is the waste of health. And not to use our knowledge and experience for the good of humanity is the waste of knowledge.
To ungraciously pollute the soil from which we are created and fed, the water that is our source of life, and the air that we need in each breath, is the waste of nature.
To turn the earth, which is entrusted to us, into a prisoner of badness, instead of leaving the future generations a prosperous and livable environment, is the waste of the universe we live in.
Esteemed Muslims!
I regret to say that we live in a world of waste today. Extravagance has surrounded almost every moment of our lives. Humanity is encouraged to earn and consume more and more. In a world where spending is presented as the meaning of life, our understanding of consumption is also quickly deteriorating. While a piece of bread can feed us for a day, about 5 million bread are wasted in our country every day. The annual waste of 18 million tons of fruits and vegetables create massive piles of garbage. As a result of all these, we not only waste 214 billion Liras per year, but also our efforts, our wealth, and more importantly our future.
Yet nearly ten million people die each year from the lack of a piece of bread or even a drop of water. In this case, as the hope of the needy, the downtrodden, and the poor; we have a great responsibility in the fight against wastage. We all need to support the campaign of fighting against wastage started in our country.
Brothers and Sisters!
Let us not forget that every blessing which Allah has given to us is both a test and a trust. Let us pay attention to ensure these blessings allow us to reach happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. Let us be conscientious, balanced and consistent in every action of ours. Let us abstain from luxury and excess in our eating habits, in our clothing, and in our expenses. Let us not forget that extravagancy drives us into failure and draw us away from the consent of Allah each passing day.
Esteemed Brothers and Sisters!
Let me conclude this khutbah with this supplication that our Prophet (s.a.w.) taught us: "O Allah, forgive us our faults, our ignorance, our immoderation in our concerns. And Thou art better aware (of our affairs) than ourselves. O Allah, grant us forgiveness (of the faults which we committed) seriously or otherwise and which we committed inadvertently and deliberately." [4]
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[1] Tirmidhi, Zuhd, 39.
[2] Furqan, 25/67.
[3] Bukhari, Libas, 1; Nasa'i, Zakat, 66.
[4] Muslim, Dhikr, 70.
Issued by: General Directorate of Religious Services