Extravagance depends on a person's financial state
Fatwa No: 271411

Question

Salam Alykum, I found in the market a dinner set (plates, knives, forks, spoons, etc...) the price is 3,200 dollars. no gold, no sliver, no diamonds. The question is what does Islam (Quran & Sunnah) say about the purchase?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

All utensils, apart from gold and silver, are permissible to use in principle according to the view of the majority of scholars even if they are made of precious metals. An-Nawawi said: "Is it permissible to use utensils made of precious gems like rubies? There are two opinions, the most correct one according to the agreement of the scholars of the Shaafi‘i School is that it is permissible, and this is explicitly stated in the Umm, and in Mukhtasar al-Muzani; and Imaam Maalik is of the same view. The scholars of our School (Shaafi‘is) said that what is precious because of its craftsmanship not for its material, like the coned glass and others, is not forbidden and there is no difference of opinion about it.'” [Excerpted from al-Majmoo‘]

As regards buying such utensils, the basic principle is that it is permissible, but the issue that remains is extravagance/immoderateness in regard to its price. What can be said about it is that “even though extravagance is forbidden, its extent varies depending on the buyer, in terms of his wealthiness or poverty; Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: extravagance means ‘going beyond bounds’; therefore, extravagance varies. One thing may be considered extravagance for one person and not extravagance for another. The person who buys a house for two million riyals and furnishes it with 600,000 riyals, and buys a car, if he is rich, is not extravagant; because this is easy for very rich people; but if he is not rich, then he is considered extravagant.” [End of quote; excerpted from the "The Open Door" conference.]

In brief, the purchase of utensils with the mentioned price is not forbidden, but if purchasing them for use is customarily considered a kind of extravagance, with consideration to the condition of the purchaser, then in such a case, this is forbidden for such a person due to extravagance.

Allaah Knows best.

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