Maasyiral muslimin rahimakumullah,
Let us increase our takwa to Allah s.w.t. Fulfil the obligations that Allah has entrusted upon us. Hopefully our lives will be filled with barakah and we will receive Allah’s pleasure in this world and the hereafter.
Blessed Friday Jemaah,
It is only natural that humankind has the desire to accumulate wealth, to sustain himself and his family, as well as to enjoy the comforts of life. However, Allah s.w.t. reminds us countless times in the Quran that the wealth that we owned, the income that we earned and the fortune that we have accumulated do not actually belong to us.
Allah says in surah An-Nur, verse 33:
Which means: “…and give them from the wealth of Allah which He has given you”.
This verse reminds us that the wealth owned by anyone is actually owned by Allah s.w.t. It is a blessing given from Allah s.w.t. to His servants as a wasilah or a medium for one to fulfill one’s duties as a khalifah or vicegerent of Allah in this world, and thus, accumulating wealth should not be one’s life’s objective. At the same time, the wealth bestowed upon us is also a test, whether a person will spend the wealth in ways that will gain Allah’s pleasures.
Dear Jemaah,
Islam has outlined several ways for a Muslim to ensure that one is spending the wealth in a way that is inline with the teachings of the religion. Among them:
First: Following a procedure when spending.
Islam does not stop one from buying things, but we are taught not to be excessive and wasteful in our spending. One should ensure that one spends moderately, avoid wastage and of course, not to purchase any goods that are haram.
Allah says surah Al-Furqan verse 67:
Which means: “Those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a just (balance) between those (extremes).”
It is sad that today, there are still many among us who like to spend excessively and even beyond their limits, to the point that they are willing to be in debt. Especially with the ease and accessibility of online shopping. Spending to fulfill our desires goes against the principle of moderation.
Islam prohibits us to be wasteful be it in spending our wealth or even in managing our time.
Allah says in surah Al-Isra’ verse 27:
Which means: “Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.”
Friday Jemaah,
At times, taking a loan can give some ease and even a certain degree of comfort. However, at times, being in debt can cause us to suffer, especially when we take loans for things that we do not need. Because of these debts, one’s financial burden will increase. In fact, the more loans we take, the bigger our financial burden and we may come to a point where we are unable to meet our loan obligations and this will then cause all sorts of difficulties for us and our families. The Prophet s.a.w. said in a hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad, which means: “Be wary of debts, indeed it is sadness at night and a disgrace in the day.”
Thus, we must be wise in managing our spending. We should identify what are needs and what are wants. We should monitor our monthly spending limits and do not spend beyond that.
Jemaah,
The second factor that a Muslim should be mindful of when spending is to identify one’s priorities – prioritising one’s urgent needs over spending on items that are less important.
Ensure that the daily needs of the household, the nafkah or allowance for your wife and children and your children’s education have been met before you spend on other things that are just additional matters
Be aware that giving allowance to the family is a priority over other matters, including giving charity to others. Rasulullah s.a.w. said: “Of the wealth that you spend as a contribution in Allah's path, or to set free a slave, or as charity given to a needy, or to support your family, the one yielding the greatest reward is that which you spend on your.” [Hadith reported by Imam Muslim]
Make the intention that every cent that we spend for our family is an ibadah. May this constantly bring barakah to our wealth.
The third guideline in managing our expenses is to inculcate the habit of saving for the future.
This is a very important habit that needs to be instilled in every individual. We need to save part of our monthly income either for our family’s future needs or even simply for our children’s education. Even if we have yet to start a family, this is a habit that needs to be instilled from young.
Jemaah, this is a sunnah of our beloved Rasulullah s.a.w., reported by Imam Bukhari: “Rasulullah s.a.w. kept basic food for his family, and it was enough to last them for a year”. Hence, when we save our money, make the intention that we are doing so to enliven the sunnah of the Prophet s.a.w., and hopefully, Allah will grant barakah upon our savings.
Let us reflect upon ourselves, to become better role models for our families. May Allah s.w.t bless us with His rahmah and His help in fulfilling our responsibilities. At the same, may He bestow upon us rizq that is halal, and may we be able to spend the wealth in ways that can increase our rewards and as an investment for the hereafter. Amin Ya Rabbal ‘alamin.
Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura
Friday Sermon
29 August 2014 / 3 Zulkaedah 1435
http://www.muis.gov.sg/cms/downloads/khutbahs.aspx
