Sikander Hashmi – Save & Spend KMA Friday Message
AI: Summary ©
The importance of balancing one's spending is discussed, which is not just a wasteful or inaccurate one, but rather a middle path that is an inherent quality of one's life. The speaker emphasizes the importance of avoiding wasteful spending and finding a moderate way to buy things that are not needed. The importance of finding a balance between personal and family needs, being reasonable and understanding, and not wasting one's money on things that are not needed is also emphasized.
AI: Summary ©
My young friends,
We begin by praising Allah
our creator,
our nourisher, our sustainer, our protector,
and that of the entire universe. And we
begin by praising,
sending peace and salutations upon his beloved messenger,
Muhammad, the son of Abdullah,
Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salam.
My brothers and sisters,
if you think about
all of the morsels of food that you
have eaten
since you were a child.
If you think about
all of the wealth,
the money that has come into your wallet,
into your bank account,
into your investment accounts.
Think about all of the spending that you
have done.
Whether it was a chocolate bar, or a
car, or a house,
or a plane ticket.
All of these, my brothers and sisters,
is from the rizq that Allah
had written for you.
Every single penny
was what Allah
had destined for you. Because indeed, Allah
is the ultimate provider.
And Allah
gives
some
more
than others. Allah
gives preference to some
over others.
Allah
grants risk to whom ever he wills
without
hisab,
without account. Allah
is the one who is in control of
the input,
the source
of
our risk.
Allah
has given us that sustenance, that risk, that
wealth
as a blessing, but also as a test.
And with that wealth, we seek
to fulfill our needs
and the needs of our dependence.
In the Quran, Allah Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala describes the Ibadul Rahman.
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala describes
the faithful servants of
the Ar Rahman.
Meaning of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
And amongst the multiple apologies that are mentioned
in Suratul Furqan,
at the end of the surah, Allah Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala says,
That amongst the qualities
or amongst the Aybaddur Rahman are those
who
when they spend
neither do they do do they do Israf,
nor
do they do Iqtar.
And they hold a medium
in between.
And they hold the middle road between the
2. They hold a medium between
the 2 extremes
or the 2
ends.
Now, in a number of places, Allah Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala talks about israf.
And that he doesn't like the musrifoon.
Those who do israf.
The words israf
and iqtar in this verse
are used
as two opposite traits,
two ends of the spectrum.
Israf means
to cross the limits.
It means
to cross the limits.
According to
Sayedid Nabbas,
and
others,
they say that it is any spending on
something that is sinful.
That Israf
is spending on something which is sinful no
matter how small
it may be.
Others say
other scholars say that even overspending
in
the rightful
and allowed things
which is wasteful,
would also fall under the definition of Israf.
It is because any wasteful spending
is by itself
a sin and is therefore
Israf.
The simplest translation, my brothers and sisters, that
we can find
is excessiveness
or extravagance.
Going beyond
an accepted limit.
It is not just applicable to spending or
consumption,
but that is what we will focus on
today. See, we're entering a time of year
when there is a lot of temptation to
spend.
There is a lot of marketing.
There is a lot of spending that people
will be doing around us.
And it doesn't mean that that spending is
necessarily bad.
It doesn't mean that it is bad to
purchase things,
or to sign up for services that you
need,
or to find deals.
There's nothing inherently wrong with that. As long
as what you are spending is halal, and
you're spending it in a halal manner for
things which are permissible
or things which are
not looked down upon.
In the verse
means to spend
with
miserliness,
to be stingy.
In Islamic jurisprudence,
it means
to be tight *,
where a believer is directed to spend.
It's actually quite interesting because Allah subhanahu wa
ta'ala on the one hand tells us not
to be wasteful,
but on the other hand Allah subhanahu wa
ta'ala also gives us virtues of those who
spend.
Right?
So on the one hand, we're told not
to be again, not to be wasteful,
careful about spending. On the other hand, there's
virtues about spending.
So the question is which type of spending
are we talking about?
So in the case,
when one does not spend at all, or
spends
very little when one is capable,
where
a person has been directed to spend,
then that is the worst of situations.
That a person has
the means, is able to spend, but in
the matters in which they are supposed to
spend, they don't. They hold back.
So Allah
is telling us
that these
are the people
who
do not spend excessively,
they are not extravagant,
yet at the same time
they aren't miserly either. So they have a
balance in between.
They are not
on the extreme on the extremities of one
extreme or the other, but rather they take
a middle path
which is actually an inherent quality of the
deen of Allah
It is an inherent quality of this deen
that whatever we have been taught
is a balanced approach.
The teachings are balanced
because Allah
has created this world and the entire universe
with balance.
Everything is in a perfect balance.
And therefore,
Allah and his messenger salallahu alayhi wasalam
have also taught us balance in every matter.
How to live
this life
with balance.
So that we live in harmony with the
system of Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala.
When we become disbalanced,
then we are not able to many times
live in harmony. And that is when the
problem start.
So if we live a balanced life, in
harmony with the balance of Allah
that we find in nature all around us,
then that gives us the most optimal
method
of
making it through
this life.
And of course, in a way which is
best for us in the hereafter. Insha'Allah.
Ibn Kathir comments
on this
ayah, on this verse. And he says, regarding
these, Ibadul Rahman.
That they are not extravagant,
spending more than they need to, nor are
they miserly towards their families,
not spending enough on their needs.
But they follow the best and the fairest
way, and the best of matters are those
which are moderate,
neither one extreme,
nor the other. In another verse, Allah
tells us,
And let not your hand be tied to
your neck.
What does it mean to have your hand
tied to the to your neck? Of course,
it's not take to be taken literally because
nobody does that.
But
it is a metaphor, an example for someone
who is stingy,
someone who is miserly.
His hand does not go anywhere near his
wallet.
It's always up here.
He's so scared that he's gonna go and
something's gonna come out of his wallet. He's
gonna end up spending,
a stingy person.
Nor stretch it forth to its utmost
utmost
reach. Forget about the the wallet, the pocket,
it goes there, and it's constantly doing this.
Nowadays, it's buttons, of course,
or tops.
But you get the idea.
So so don't tie your hand to your
neck, don't be stingy,
nor do not stretch it forth to its
utmost reach
like a spendthrift,
so that you become blameworthy and in severe
poverty.
Right? So here Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is
implicitly telling us what?
That
our spending can have consequences to the point
or our decisions can have consequences when it
comes to spending,
to the point where it could lead a
person to a bad situation.
It can lead a person
to
a blame worthy position,
to a position of poverty. That's not to
say that everyone who is less fortunate is
because they were wasteful. Of course not. But
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is telling us,
teaching us that we must be responsible
When it comes to spending, don't say, oh
let me just spend and I'll see you
later.
Oh let me just spend and
Allah will take care of me. Yes. It's
great to have tawakkul but at the same
time Allah
is telling us that our accounts our actions
have
consequences. So don't be stingy, but at the
same time don't go beyond your means either,
that you're spending drives you to bankruptcy
and to poverty.
Imam Ahmad records
that Anasub Namanik radiAllahu anhu said, a man
from Banutamim
came to the messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi
wa sallam.
And he said, You Rasulullah,
that, oh messenger of Allah, I have a
lot of wealth.
I have a family, children,
and the refinements
of urban life, of city life.
That tell me how I should spend and
what I should do.
So Rasulullah he sallallahu
alaihi wasallam gave him
a a a detailed answer saying, pay the
zakat on your wealth if any is due
for it is purification that will make you
pure.
Maintain your times of kinship.
Pay attention to the rights
of the people of the sa'il, of the
beggar, of the one who asks,
and the neighbors, and the poor.
It's literally like two lines. But he says,
You Rasulullah,
make a less for
me. There's too many things. Make a less
for me. So Rasulullah he sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam recited the verse,
and give
to
the kinsmen, the relative, their due.
And to the miskeen, to the poor, and
to the wayfarer,
but spend not wastefully
in the manner of a spendthrift.
Because Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says,
in Al Mubazirina
ikhwanu
ikhwanu li rabbihikafura.
Squander not your wealth in the manner of
a spendthrift.
Meaning, a person who spends
money irresponsibly,
extravagantly,
in a prohibited manner
to fulfill their desires beyond their need. So
don't be that type of person.
Why?
Because he says
such people, the spentrefs, are the brothers
of the shayateen.
Are the brothers of They
are the brothers of the evil ones.
And what is they call it the characteristic
that links them?
And the shaitaan to is to his Lord,
ungrateful.
So this indicates ungratefulness.
A lack of appreciation for the blessings of
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala If a person
spends what Allah has provided for them in
an irresponsible,
extravagant, and wasteful manner simply to fulfill their
needs, especially when
fulfill
their desires rather, not their needs, but rather
their desires
beyond
their needs and especially beyond their means.
The prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam said,
and without arrogance.
Sight So to eat and to dress well,
there is nothing wrong if a person can
afford it.
To fulfill
their needs, to fulfill the needs of their
family,
perhaps with better quality,
you know, materials quality with
greater longevity
as an example.
Not to show off,
or to feel better than others,
or to get attached to it, or to
make it the purpose of their life.
You know, but Allah has blessed someone,
and they decide to get a nicer car.
Alhamdulillah. There's nothing wrong with that. It doesn't
mean they always have to buy the worst
quality, the cheapest one available. No. If Allah
has blessed them and, you know, a person
has the means,
it is actually virtuous.
It is actually virtuous
to spend in a way that honors the
blessings of Allah
But without building attachment to it, and without
wanting to show off.
It is worth yours to do so.
And to spend on one's family because sometimes
we hear these stories
of
people,
right? Generally brothers,
who are extremely tight *.
Right? There are stories of
women as well who are extremely wasteful, and
men who are extremely wasteful as well. Right?
But I specifically wanna mention brothers at this
point. Right? Who are extremely extremely tight *.
Right? To the point where if the wife
wants to buy something that is needed for
the family, for the children, she has to
call and ask.
Oh, can you allow me?
Or there's controls on the card. Say, can
you allow this amount or this transaction?
The Prophet
said,
that if a Muslim
spends on his family seeking reward from Allah
it is charity for him.
It is charity.
Right? So if you're spending on your family,
as you should be,
make the niya of salakah.
Make the niya that I am doing this
for the pleasure of Allah
And Insha'Allah,
you will see how beautiful would it be
that you are thinking, Okay. I have to
pay for this, I have to pay for
this bill, that bill, tuition fees, you know,
tutoring,
clothing, whatever it is, food, right?
Rent,
mortgage, whatever it is that you have to
pay. And on the day of the judgment,
you show up in front of Allah
and you find like all these huge sacks
of sadaqah in your account.
And you're like, Wow. Like I never really.
Yes. I donated to, you know, Khneidah Masjid,
and I donated here, and I donated there.
But and to such food bank, and for
the orphans, and for the needy.
But I don't know how I didn't have
this much, you know, wealth to spend
in charity.
So how did this happen?
And then you find out that Allah
has counted every single penny that you spent
upon your family members as salaahu.
And Allah
multiplied it.
Right? So, your entire life spending on your
family
became a means of your salvation on the
day of judgment.
Subhanallah.
This is possible my brothers.
It depends on our
depends on our intention,
and that we do it in a good
way.
This is not to say that we should
be wasteful,
this is not to say that we should
encourage our family members to be wasteful, absolutely
not.
Right? And yes, sometimes there can be differences
because there are different understandings of what is
wasteful, what is needed.
Right? The wife thinks something is needed, the
husband thinks it is not, vice versa.
You know, children says, Yes, I need a
cell phone. You know, baba, mama say, No,
you don't need a cell phone. Kid says,
Oh, I need data. Everybody has data. Parents
say, No, you don't need data because because
you don't know what you're gonna do on
your phone, this and that. You also, okay,
yes, maybe you have differences
on some matters, right?
So that is understandable,
but we should always try to be reasonable.
Always try to be reasonable and always try
to be
understanding.
And on the other hand, for the sisters
as well, it's not a blank check.
The husband is not a blank check. Say,
in Islam, it's like the best of both
worlds. So my money is mine, and then
my husband also has to take care of
me, but he's gonna take care of me
not in a moderate way, but I want
this name brand person, I want these shoes,
and I want to drive this type of
car, and I want this and I want
that, and no, it is his responsibility to
maintain that. Otherwise, why do you get married
to me? Please,
let's be reasonable. Let's be reasonable
and have mutual understanding, have mutual love and
respect. So on the one hand, don't be
so controlling and so stingy, but on the
other hand, don't be wasteful either, and try
to find a moderate way because that is
which is most pleasing to
Allah So my brothers and sisters, to recap,
before shopping, think about your purchase. You know,
do you need it? Is it a want?
Not every want is necessarily long or bad.
But what would happen if you didn't get
this item? You know, what would you gain
if you did get it? Or is there
any real benefit? Is it simply to fulfill
your desires?
Are you trying to gain happiness through shopping?
Just think about these few questions
before you make purchases, especially if they're larger
purchases. You know, if you're gonna do that
every time your kid says, well, I want
a hot chocolate and then you sit there
and say, ma'am, said okay. You're sitting in
the drive through and you're thinking, okay. What
is the gain gonna be? What is the
benefit? I'm gonna do a cost benefit analysis.
Okay. Obviously, that'll be going a little bit
too far. So that's not what I mean.
That's not what I'm trying to suggest.
So again, be reasonable,
but
when you're doing especially major purchases that will
have an impact on your finances or especially
monthly
subscriptions or costs that are done monthly because
you don't realize they look small, but actually
they add up over the course of 12
months and 24 months and 36 months, so
things which will have an impact.
If you do have a need, a family
has a need, don't keep ignoring it because
of Syngeneus. Don't be like, no, no, no,
it's winter, you don't need boots, use the
boots from 3 years ago Even though they're
tight and they're leaking, no, because we need
to save money.
Unless, of course, it's a dire situation, may
Allah help us all. But
again,
be reasonable. If you like buying, buy for
your needs, buy for your family, then buy
for others if you're able to afford it.
If you have too much, give gifts.
There's plenty of people who can benefit, even
family members, they're encouraged to give gifts because
it increases love.
For
our children,
try to put in good spending habits,
you know, teach them financial literacy,
teach them how to manage their wealth, right,
so that when they grow up and they
get married, they are able to to manage
the affairs, especially as costs go high and
as, you know,
as things get somewhat more difficult. May Allah
grant us true contentment of the heart. May
Allah
make us all givers. May Allah
make us attracted and attached to that which
is permanent. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala purify
our hearts and guide us to that which
is best. May Allah provide us with all
the halal, the risk that we need. May
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala protect us from the
burdens of debt and of poverty
and of hardship.
My brothers and sisters, let us just make
dua for our brothers and sisters who are
ill.
Oh, Allah. Please grant
completely and quickly to all of our brothers
and sisters who are ill. O Allah, our
elderly sister who is living in pain. O
Allah, our brother and sister who are living
with long term injuries. O Allah, those who
are living with various types of illnesses. O
Allah, please grant them shifa which is ajil
and kamil You're Balameen.
O Allah, You are the shafi. O Allah,
You are the cure. O Allah, anyone who
is in pain, who is in distress, who
has anxiety,
O Allah, please cure it from them for
them, You're Balameen.
O Allah, all of those who have returned
to You, Oh Allah, please accept them and
grant them the highest station in Jannah, You
Rabbalameen.
Oh Allah, please grant relief to all to
all of their loved ones and grant them
subujamil, You Rabbalameen.
Oh Allah, please widen their graves and, oh,
Allah, please make this entire journey from this
point till Jannah easy for them.