The Culture of Flexing vs. Islamic Teachings: Why is Excessive Consumption Prohibited?

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - In this era of social media and the ubiquitous culture of ‘flexing’, the urge to consume more than what is needed is becoming increasingly difficult to control. Standards of living are no longer determined by necessity, but by what is displayed on screens.

Modern economists and psychologists have long warned of the consequences, such as financial pressure, chronic dissatisfaction, and the trap of consumer debt.

However, long before that, Islam had already provided clear guidelines. The Quran states that humans should eat and drink, but not in excess. The prohibition of israf (excess) and tabdhir (wastefulness) is not merely a moral rule, but a principle of maintaining balance in life.

Here are some verses from the Quran about the prohibition of excess/excessive consumption:

1. QS. Al-A’raf verse 31

يٰبَنِيْٓ اٰدَمَ خُذُوْا زِيْنَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَّكُلُوْا وَاشْرَبُوْا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوْاۚ اِنَّهٗ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِيْنَࣖ ٣١

Meaning: O children of Adam, take your adornment at every mosque, and eat and drink, but do not exceed. Indeed, He does not like those who exceed.

This verse clearly states that eating and drinking is permissible, even encouraged, within reasonable limits. However, Islam prohibits israf (excess).

2. QS. Al-Isra verse 26-27

وَاٰتِ ذَا الْقُرْبٰى حَقَّهٗ وَالْمِسْكِيْنَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيْلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيْرًا ٢٦اِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِيْنَ كَانُوْٓا اِخْوَانَ الشَّيٰطِيْنِۗ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطٰنُ لِرَبِّهٖ كَفُوْرًا ٢٧

Meaning: And give the relative his right, and the poor, and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and your Lord is sufficient for you.

This verse emphasizes that Islam prohibits excessive and wasteful behavior in the use of wealth. Humans may enjoy their sustenance, but they must not squander it wastefully or exceed the limits.

3. QS. Al-Furqan verse 67

وَالَّذِيْنَ اِذَآ اَنْفَقُوْا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوْا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوْا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ قَوَامًا ٦٧

Meaning: And those who, when they spend, do not waste and do not be stingy, but spend moderately between those two.

This verse emphasizes the principle of balance in Islam. In giving charity or spending wealth, a Muslim should not be excessive to the point of wastefulness, but also should not be stingy and withhold what should be given.

4. QS. Al-An’am verse 141

وَهُوَ الَّذِيْٓ اَنْشَاَ جَنّٰتٍ مَّعْرُوْشٰتٍ وَّغَيْرَ مَعْرُوْشٰتٍ وَّالنَّخْلَ وَالزَّرْعَ مُخْتَلِفًا اُكُلُهٗ وَالزَّيْتُوْنَ وَالرُّمَّانَ مُتَشَابِهًا وَّغَيْرَ مُتَشَابِهٍۗ كُلُوْا مِنْ ثَمَرِهٖٓ اِذَآ اَثْمَرَ وَاٰتُوْا حَقَّهٗ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهٖۖ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوْاۗ اِنَّهٗ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِيْنَۙ ١٤١

Meaning: And it is He who produced gardens of grapevines and olive trees and palm trees, and different kinds of fruit for you. So eat of its fruit when it bears fruit, and give its due on the day of harvest, and do not waste. Indeed, He does not like the wasteful.

This verse explains that all the fruits of the earth are gifts from Allah that humans may enjoy. We are allowed to eat from this sustenance and are obliged to fulfill its rights. However, the verse ends with a prohibition against excess. This means that even if resources are available, humans must still maintain limits, not be greedy, not be wasteful, and not use blessings in excess, because Allah does not like exceeding limits.

(mae/mae)