If you’re struggling to make ends meet every month and keep juggling your finance and obligations, then welcome to the 21st-century club. With our never-ending wants and needs in a highly tempting life, it can become challenging to stop worrying about our financial future.
As Muslims, we long to hear comforting words at times of confusion or distress and opt for guidance regarding our worldly matters. In this Hadith, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) taught us to be wise kill three birds with one stone. Ask Allah for wisdom that will benefit you and wealth that you will benefit from.
What Does Our Holy Quran Advise Us Regarding Finance?
Muslims have faith that everything belongs to Allah, wealth also belongs to Allah, should use money responsibly. Muslims believe they must be compassionate because everyone is a unique creation of Allah.
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Wealth is a trial and a blessing.
While we all seek to become more wealthy, which is perfectly Halal, Allah reminds us to be mindful that having money is a test. We shall be asked how we spent it, where we are wise or fools, and whether we have fulfilled our charity obligations.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
O ye who believe! Let not your wealth nor your children distract you from the remembrance of Allah. Those who do so are the losers.
Al Munafiqun-9
And during its absence, it shall test our patience about how satisfied or dissatisfied we’ve been with Allah’s blessings.
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Story of Wealthy Person
The most exciting story mentioned in Surah Kahf is of two persons. One is the owner of two gardens, and the second is his poor companion. His gardens were fertile and profitable, and his wealth multiplied faster. His wealth made him stray from the right path and doubt his faith, and he was too arrogant in his manner even though he started assuming that all things were just because of his hard work and intelligence.
He starts disbelieving his Lord, the creator of the world who provides him with every facility to fertile his land, but instead of thankfulness, he believes that all the wealth is just because of him. His friend tries his best to explain the reality that every single thing belongs to Allah. We should be thankful for His mercy upon us that he born us with dust provides usfood, water, and everything.
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient ِ
(Al-Quran 2:155)
The lesson we need to learn is that everything we have is just because of the mercy of Allah Almighty. We will be tested by giving and taking back. He is the creator of the whole world. He is the Lord of humans, animals, insects, birds, water, sun, moon, land, heaven, hell, etc.
We should have faith that wealth is also a test from Allah Almighty; He will test us by granting all the facilities and wealth that after that the believer will be grateful to Him or not. And no one has enough capability to challenge Allah’s will. We should have believed that it’s up to Allah what He will give us and what He can take back from us, and He has yet not given us.
It is narrated in the Quran,
وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُۥ فِئَةٌۭ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا
And he had no human resources to help him against Allah, nor could he ˹even˺ help himself.
What Shall We Do To Increase Our Finance?
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Be pious
Piety is a lifestyle. Work hard and work sincerely. Safeguard your soul from sins by striving to be present in places God is pleased with and abstain from unfavorable ones. Allah(SWT) will bless your income to suffice your needs.
وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ
And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect.
(Al-Talaq 2-3)
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Your mighty prayers
Never underestimate the power of Dua, for it can move mountains. You can have a daily private date with your creator and put all your burdens in your Duaa. Talk to God, confess and share all your wishes. He will listen to your sincere prayers and answer in different ways. Keep knocking and insisting, for your door will eventually open.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Prophet, peace be upon him, would say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى
O Allah, I ask you for guidance, righteousness, abstinence, and self-sufficiency.
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But what if you feel that your prayers are not answered?
We often work sincerely, pray for the best, and rely on Allah, but then get disappointed; there’s no change in our status when nothing happens. We start losing hope and question why God is not answering our prayers. Yet if we contemplate more, we’ll get it. We’ll realize that there’s a hidden blessing in the scarcity of personal finances.
You see, when a child asks his parents for candy every hour, they refuse to give him. Does that mean they hate him?
Well, they minimize the candy to protect their child, to keep him healthy and safe. The same goes for Allah(SWT), for when we ask him every hour for more and more wealth, He gives us in exact portions that would not spoil us and keep us safe and pious. For sometimes, more wealth opens doors for more doubts and sins. And during every stage of your life, rest assured that Allah is preparing you and sharpening your gears for your upcoming phase.
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Repent
Repentance of your sins is the blessing and mercy of Allah. He chooses the best of those who repent in front of Him for their sins, and He blessed them with his mercy, wealth, and children.
As it is narrated in the Quran,
فَقُلْتُ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارًا
And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. (Al-Quran 71:10)
يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا
He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers (Al-Quran 71:11)
وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّٰتٍ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَٰرًا
And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and rivers. (Al-Quran 71:12)
More repentance, more bounties. Need we say more! I know people who do Istighfar 1000 times per day wherever they go. How many can you do?
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Be grateful
Allah has promised those who give thanks with an increase of blessings.
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ
If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more.
ِIbrahim-7
Which personal finance advice will you apply today?
