“Give the kinsman his due, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and squander not (your wealth) in wantonness. Lo! The squanderers were ever brothers of the devils, and the devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord” (Quran 17:26-27).
We all spend money: we must take care of our needs, and beyond that, we enjoy spending it! If we are lucky, we are able to save some as well. But more often than not, many people end up spending all that they have without thinking of the consequences, and fret when they really need the money. Money is an important need – especially in these times – and it is natural that you fulfill your basic necessities; however, we must strike a balance so that we are able to pay off our expenses, save some for emergencies, and also have a little extra to indulge.
Let us take a look at some things that we can do in order to use our money productively and wisely, i.e. without wasting it and thinking before we really spend.
1. Identify your expenses
First and foremost, you need to and jot down all the monthly expenses you have. These of course vary slightly according to the needs of each individual, and should include all details from food, accommodation, school fees, transportation costs, electricity bills, car installments, credit card payments, etc. I would also suggest setting aside a certain amount for charity each month.
2. Create a spreadsheet or use a software application
Create a spreadsheet with your budget and expenses. Include your monthly income as well as your accumulated annual income. Then list all your expenses with a cost figure next to it. This will tell you if your income is enough to cover your expenses. If it is, then you are more or less on the right track; but if the income is not enough, you need to streamline your expenses. You can even do this more efficiently through some useful iPhone applications like Texthog, Cashbase or online at Mint.com (also an app).
3. Save a percentage of money
Once you have your expenses outlined, you will have a good idea of what you can save on a monthly (and eventually annual) basis. Target this amount and make sure that you put aside a sufficient amount with every paycheck you receive. This will ensure that you have money in the bank in case of an emergency or personal expense. Ideally, saving 10-20% of one’s monthly income is a good start.
4. Keep track of all expenses
Keep track of each expense that you make on a daily basis. For example, I use my mobile notepad to keep a list of what I spend during the day. At the end of every week, I transfer this on to a spreadsheet on my computer to compare with my outlined budget.
5. Analyze
What you need to make sure is that you do not lose sight of your goals. Set aside a specific day, (e.g. the last day of the month, or the day you receive your paycheck) and analyze your expenses. First, you have to see that you are saving the amount you have set for yourself. If not, you need to figure out where most of your money is going, and if there is a way to cut down those expenses. Start working on these cut-backs immediately.
6. Stay Clear
It is narrated by Abu Musa Ashari that the Prophet said: After the major sins which must be avoided, the greatest sin is that someone dies in a state of debt and leaves behind no asset to pay it off. (Darimi)
Try as much as you can to stay out of debt – and if that cannot be avoided, make sure that you make your payments on time. Just as you would put aside money for savings, also immediately put aside the amount for debt payments, or pay them as soon as you can to make sure that those monthly car installments, loan repayments, or credit card payments are secure. Letting those payments accumulate would only lead you to paying penalties for late payment!
7. Lifestyle Change
“And eat and drink, but waste not in extravagance. Certainly He (Allah) likes not those who waste in extravagance.” (Qur’an 7:31)
Get rid of all your expensive and forbidden habits. This may be the cost of cigarettes, the cost of a cup of Starbucks coffee every morning, or simply overspending on something that isn’t necessary. Take some time to calculate how much you spend on coffee, cigarettes, and fast food every year and you will be surprised to discover how much money can be used productively, and, how much damage you are potentially doing to your health.
8. Disposable Income
If you follow the above pointers and save money monthly, you will end up having a good lump sum amount which you can use as disposable income. Reward yourself for all the hard work you have done the whole year. Use that money to go for a vacation or buy yourself that item you always wanted to.
Abu Hurayra (may Allāh be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “Wealth does not mean having a lot of property. Wealth means having self-contentment.” [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad]
Question: What financial tips do you have to share? Write them below so that we may all increase the barakah in our finances, inshAllah!
About the Author:
Talha Tashfeen Qayyum is a Swiss-qualified hospitality management professional and a freelance writer who intends to contribute to life, society and Islam through his writings on self-improvement and personal development with the vision to positively affect other people’s lives. You can read more from him on www.personal-development.com/talha. Talha can be reached at [email protected]
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Your writings and the thoughts behind them. May Allah (swt) bless you. We are blessed in having you as our son. Masha Allah.
So, these instructions are very good and they really work.
50% for bills and food etc
10% for charity etc
10% for education and books etc
10%for emergencies, clothes etc
10% for buying gifts and treating your self and the faimly etc (which should be spent in full monthly)
10% for paying off debts which when paid off you will eventually have money for you later years
in addition any change you have in your pocket always put in to a jar at home the
aim is never to even waste a penny let your money work for you, where ever it may be
Main thing is you have to maintian the standard so i guess have a bit of sabr with it
Mr. Talha,
I am confused after reading your article and would request you to
clarify some points. I have the following confusions:
The very first step that
you have stated in your article mentions Credit card payments as an expense… This
compelled me to go back to the title of your article… 8 Tips to be a
Financially Sound Productive MUSLIM!!!
If a MUSLIM desires to become financially productive he/she needs to
make sure that riba/interest is non-existent in his/her life…the mere mention
of credit card payments renders all the other steps useless…you are teaching us
to be productive MUSLIMS yet mentioning credit card payments. Doesn’t Islam
teach us to cut our coat according to our cloth? The use of credit ca
The hadith that you have
mentioned it in tip no 6 very clearly states that ‘…the greatest sin is
that someone dies in a state of debt…’ and
then ask the readers to avoid all the possible means of accumulating debt. Couldn’t
One of the means be not to go for the option of a credit card?? Again under the
heading of tip 7, you could have mentioned the use of credit card under the
‘forbidden habits’
Please
note that the intention is NOT to criticize you but only to present my confusions
and invite your response to it.
بينا رجل بفلاة من الأرض ، فسمع صوتا في سحابة : اسق حديقة فلان . فتنحى ذلك السحاب . فأفرغ ماءه في حرة . فإذا شرجة من تلك الشراج قد استوعبت ذلك الماء كله . فتتبع الماء . فإذا رجل قائم في حديقته يحول الماء بمسحاته . فقال له : يا عبدالله ! ما اسمك ؟ قال : فلان . للاسم الذي سمع في السحابة . فقال له : يا عبدالله ! لم تسألني عن اسمي ؟ فقال : إني سمعت صوتا في السحاب الذي هذا ماؤه يقول : اسق حديقة فلان . لاسمك . فما تصنع فيها ؟ قال : أما إذ قلت هذا ، فإني أنظر إلى ما يخرج منها ، فأتصدق بثلثه ، وآكل أنا وعيالي ثلثا ، وأرد فيها ثلثه
الراوي : أبو هريرة
المحدث : مسلم
المصدر : صحيح مسلم
الصفحة أو الرقم : 2984
خلاصة حكم المحدث : صحيح
can’t translate it into any other language. For lack of a better word in
english it has been translated as The Holy, so to call a human Holy is
not a problem as long as your using it with its english definitions. To
believe Allah, Al-Quddus means The Holy or Pure according to english
language definitions is a great injustice.
Could you tell us who the Hold Imam is and how he is holy?
Jazakallah.