Question

الا قتصا د في النفقة نصف المعيشة و اتود د الي النا س نسف العقل و حسن اسؤ ا ل نسف العلم

The Messenger of Allah(SAW) said: “Moderation in spending is half of [one's] sustenance, friendliness toward people is half of [one's] intelligence, and asking good questions is half of [one's] knowledge.” [Bayhaqi, Shu'ab al-iman]

Here “Moderation in spending…” is best understood by the verse of the Qur’an:”Those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not miserly, but hold a just balance between the two. (Qur’an 25:67) [The income a person receives is mostly not in one's control, as opposed to the spending of what one possesses, which is nearly always in his control. Hence, regulating what one spends of his wealth can provide half the answer to stability in one's livelihood] “Friendliness towards people…” means that a person’s intelligence is perfected through interaction with others, in that the collaboration of intelligence is perfected through interaction with others in that the collaboration of two minds is better than one. And “Asking good questions is half of one’s knowledge” because knowledge of a particular issue only becomes complete by asking the appropriate questions. (Mirquat al-mafatih 8:795). [A] Also, fully thinking through a questions before seeking an answer provides half the answer to the questioner, as opposed to random questioning.

Taken from Provisions For The Seekers, translation and commentary of Zad al-Talibin by Shaykh Abdur Rahman ibn-Yusuf