BEING STINGY AND MISERLY:
Islamic guidance encourages one to spend their wealth on various causes such as the poor and other noble deeds. Allah says:
“Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allah, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”
(Qur’an: Surah Al-Baqara:262)
However, reluctance to spend on those who are in need out of fear that one’s own wealth will be diminished, is a clear indication of the weakness of one’s faith in Allah The Benevolent, The Provider of rizq. The Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said:
“Stinginess and faith never exist together in the heart of the believer.”
[Reported by al-Nisaa’i, al-Mujtaba, 6/13; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2678].
A person with a strong faith knows that Allah bestows His blessings on whom He pleases. The weakness of faith, however, can make us to question the fairness of it all leading us to compare our blessings with others giving birth to feelings of envy and jealousy. Envying others and feeling jealous of worldly possessions that others have goes against the teachings of Allah and His prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam).
The Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said:
“Eeman and Hasad do not exist together in the heart of the true slave.”
[Reported by Abu Dawood, 5/150; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1464].
GOING TO EXTREMES IN DEMANDING LUXURY:
The obsession to have various luxuries and amenities of this life has created a cut throat culture mesmerizing those whose faith is not as strong. Whether it is about staying in tune with the latest trends of fashion, or the need to have have the latest gadgets and fancy living, the attraction of such luxuries is diverting our attention from vital life matters. We should know that such obsessions carry the risks of consuming ones life to the point where we start neglecting our responsibilities toward our Creator and families. As reported in the hadeeth of Mu’aadh ibn Jabal (RadiyAllahu Anhu): When the Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) sent him to Yemen, he advised him:
“Beware of luxury, for the slaves of Allah do not live a life of luxury.”
[Reported by Abu Na’eem in al-Hilyah, 353].
LACK OF CONCERN ABOUT OTHER MUSLIMS AFFAIRS:
Lack of interest in the affairs of Muslims, be it by making dua, giving charity or helping them, is another sign of weak faith. It is even worse when one remains unconcerned and indifferent towards the oppression, suppression and disasters suffered by fellow Muslims in other parts of the world. The Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said:
“The believer’s position in relation to his fellow believers is like that of the head to the body; the believer feels the pain of his fellow believers as the body reacts to the pain suffered by the head.”
[Musnad Ahmad, 5/340; al-Silsilat al-Saheehah, 1137].
CONCLUSION:
Knowing the existence of problem is a prerequisite to finding the solution to those problems. Constant evaluation of our self can help us be on the watch for these symptoms. Once we know about the existence of such symptoms, we can work to cure them both in our hearts and actions.
May Allah, Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, Grant us the Purity and Strength of Eemaan!
Aameen!