"O you who believe! Make not unlawful the good things which God has made lawful for you, but commit no excess: for God loves not those given to excess.” (Qur’an 5:87)
“O children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters.” (Qur’an 7:31)
"Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the Evil Ones; and the Evil One is to his Rabb (Sustainer) (Himself) ungrateful.” (Qur’an 17:27)
(For other relevant Qur’anic verses, see: 17:26; 17:29 and 25:63-67)
Discouragement of Miserliness
So he who gives (in charity) and fears (Allah), and (in all sincerity) testifies to the Best, We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Ease. But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient, and gives the lie to the Best, ¾ We will indeed make smooth for him the Path of Misery; nor will his wealth profit him when he falls headlong (into the Pit). Verily We take upon Us to guide, and verily unto Us (belong) the End and the Beginning. Therefore do I warn you of a Fire blazing fiercely; none shall burn therein but those most unfortunate ones who give the lie to Truth and turn their backs. But those most devoted to Allah shall be removed far from it. Those who spend their wealth for increase in self-purification, and have in their minds no favour from anyone for which a reward is expected in return, but only the desire to seek for the Countenance of their Creator Most High; and soon will they attain (complete) satisfaction. (Qur’an 92:4-21)
Abu Hurairah radiallahu tala anhu narrated that the Prophet salla lahu alaihi wa sallam said: "Every day two angels come down from Heaven and one of them says, 'O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your cause,' and the other (angel) says, 'O Allah! Destroy every miser.’” (Al-Bukhari,Vol. 2 Hadith 522)
(For other relevant Ahadith, see: Al-Bukhari Vol. 4 Hadith 166; Vol. 2 Hadith 523 and Tirmidhi,1873.)
Encouragement of Self-Sufficiency and Discouragement of Begging
Abu Said Al-Khudri radiallahu tala anhu narrated that some Ansari persons asked for (something) from Allah’s Messenger salla lahu alaihi wa sallam and he gave them. They again asked him for (something) and he again gave them. And then again they asked him and he gave them till all that was with him finished. And then he salla lahu alaihi wa sallam said: “If I had anything, I would not keep it away from you. (Remember) Whoever abstains from asking others, Allah will make him contented, and whoever tries to make himself self-sufficient, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience.” (Al-Bukhari Vol. 2 Hadith 548)
Abu Hurairah radiallahu tala anhu narrated that Allah’s Messenger salla lahu alaihi wa sallam said: “By Him in Whose Hand my life is, it is better for anyone of you to take a rope and cut the wood (from the forest) and carry it over his back and sell it (as a means of earning his living); rather than to ask a person for something and that person may give him or not.” (Al-Bukhari Vol. 2 Hadith 549)
Hakim bin Hizam radiallahu tala anhu narrated that the Prophet salla lahu alaihi wa sallam said: “The upper hand is better than the lower hand, (I.e., he who gives charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses.) And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient.” (Al-Bukhari Vol. 2 Hadith 508)
(For other relevant Hadith, see: Al-Bukhari Vol. 2 Hadith 509.)
Emphasis and Reward for Hard Work
“That man can have nothing but what he strives for.” (Qur’an 53:39)
“And if any strive (with might and main), they do so for their own souls: for Allah is free of all needs from all creation. Those who believe and work righteous deed, from them shall We blot out all misdeed that they have committed, and We shall reward them according to the best of their deeds.” (Qur’an 29:6-7)
Al-Miqdam radiallahu tala anhu narrated that the Prophet salla lahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Nobody has ever eaten a better meal than that which one has earned by working with one’s own hands. The Prophet of Allah, Daud (David), used to eat from the earnings of his manual labor.” (Al-Bukhari Vol. 3 Hadith 286)
Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith 2482 Narrated by AbuHurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him)
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) used to say, " O Allah, grant me benefit in what Thou hast taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and increase my knowledge. Praise be to Allah in all circumstances. I seek refuge in Allah from the state of those who go to Hell."
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a tradition whose isnad is gharib.
qaala Rasul Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam): "Allahumma infa'ni bima 'allamtani, wa allimni maa yanfa'oni wa zidni 'ilman, alhamdulillahi alaa kolli haal, wa a'odtho billahi min haali ahlil naar."