Money
is not easy to obtain, especially if we mean the lawful source of money.
Certainly, the acquisition of wealth requires great efforts. “One must work to earn his bread” is a
phrase we hear very often.
Allah, the Regulator of all that is in this world
and in heaven has commanded us in His Blessed Book:
“It is He Who has made the earth manageable for you, so walk
through its tracts and enjoy of the Sustenance which He furnishes: but unto Him
is the Resurrection.” (67: 16).
Allah
is the Lord of immense grace, and all that is in heaven and on earth belongs to
Him. Therefore, man must know that although he is the actor of his efforts, but
all that which is in his hand really belongs to Allah. Allah is He Who has
power over everything he is and everything he owns. Certainly man is not the
true owner of the property/wealth which is in his hands. Allah exposes this
fact very clearly in His Glorious Book: “And give
them of the wealth of Allah which He has given you.” (24: 34). 
If this
is the case, man must be very careful about how he spends his wealth. The Quran,
best guide for humanity gives him better guidance about it. “Those who
when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but they hold a just
balance between the two.” (25: 68). The believer should
not be an extravagant spender and on the other hand, he/she must not also be
stingy. He must hold firm to a just position between the two, practicing the
middle way.
Wealth
is without a doubt a great trial, or even a great temptation. When a person
accumulates money, he tends to make unnecessary expenses. Like the one who buys
what he wants as and when he pleases without even reaping the benefit of this
money/expenditure in any way. Otherwise he tries to have the money multiplied
through illicit means or thrown in gambling without taking into account the
great lost that awaits him both in this world and in the hereafter. Or he may
spend this money in vain pursuits (reaping no benefit whatsoever) such as
alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, giant screens (home cinemas), etc.
Sometimes
his wealth makes him become stingy. He does not like to share it with others,
or to relieve the poor with this money, or to help in the contribution of a
mosque or any other community (Jamaat)
project, or to fund a house to settle orphans ... he fears the depletion of his
wealth if he spends in this way. Even more surprising, he deprives his wife, children,
father, mother, brothers and sisters of their merits. Alas, if only he knew the
wonderful words of the prophet (pbuh) whereby he said:
“A dinar you spend in Allah's way, or to free a slave, or as a
charity you give to a needy person, or to support your family, the one yielding
the greatest reward is that which you spend on your family.” (Muslim)
It is
clear therefore that the believer must show himself conscientious in the way of
managing his money and to not deprive his immediate family of that money which Allah
has so generously granted him. The best charity begins at home. He must learn
how to spend, when to spend, and why spend. And he must also learn how to save
some money for hard and difficult times that will appear later in his life,
because in life there are ups and downs. When he manages his wealth or the
little money he has, he becomes the heir to the gift that Allah has given to
His prophets.
Abdullah
ibn Sarjas (ra) narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “A good
manner of conduct, deliberation and moderation are a twenty-fourth part of
prophecy.” (Tirmidhi).
In
another Hadith, the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) is reported to have said: “A good way of acting, a good manner of conduct and moderation are
twenty-fifth part of prophecy.” (Abu Dawud).
May
Allah grant us the ability to manage our money and not to hesitate to spend
this money in His path. The money spent in the way of Allah will never be in
vain because we shall certainly reap the rewards of our sacrifices and of the
management of the money by forming an integral part of the chosen people of
Allah. If today, with a Divine Manifestation we, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam,
proclaim to be the chosen people of Allah, then we must also show it in our
intentions and our actions with sincerity of heart only to reap pleasure Allah.
Insha-Allah, Ameen!
-Friday Sermon of August 07, 2015 delivered by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius.