We are currently experiencing an economic crisis that is affecting every aspect of our lives. The crises challenge our condition, our values and our lifestyle. How we survive through this will greatly be influenced by our economic acumen, wise planning, hope and our moral strength.

Human Behavior & Relationships

Human behavior may be categorized into three basic types of relationships: spiritual/religious, social, economic. 

They stem from the human being’s basic relationship

-       to the Creator

-       to the environment

-       and to other human beings.

Economic relations are an outcome of creations instinct to survive in the physical world, the human drive to seek good things, to secure interest, and most importantly to satisfy needs. This seeking of meeting one’s basic needs is an obligation as is evidenced in the saying of the Prophet Muhammad, that seeking of lawful means of livelihood is an obligation after other obligations. Accordingly, human beings, in relation to the environment, has been predisposed to utilize all possi­ble resources to satisfy human.  The earth is thus made available for human use taskhīr, without abuse or misuse. The circle of things available for the benefit of humanity is much greater than that of the environment.

وَسَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مِّنْهُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لَّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

“And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth: behold, in that there are Signs indeed for those who reflect.” (Qur’an, 45:13)  Human beings are thus invited to use this opportunity for benefit and not to "corrupt the earth" / fasad fi’l-ard  [Q28:77].                                      

But “needs” seem always to be expanding due to the complexity of utilizing the resources of the environment. The complexity of life, arising from his relationship with the environment, made it difficult for him to cope adequately with his increasing needs, some of which are not need, but greed. Remember, there is normally enough to meet the world’s need, but never enough to meet the world’s greed. The instinctive greed of the increasingly material world gave rise to man's unbridled exploitation of his environment and of his fellow human being. It is due to this that the human com­munity faces oppression in the form of economic exploitation. 

 Avoid the Negative Impulses

In times of economic hardship, we may tend to react with certain negative tendencies. Be careful,

a) Need & Greed/Hirs  حرص

In this life our existence is surrounded by certain necessities which hold a tight grip on us from the day that we are born. Some of these necessities such as food, clothes and shelter are basic and the preservation of life’s system depends on them. Needs of this type are natural. The other types of ‘needs’ are non-essential and are constantly changing and can never be totally fulfilled.

Greed forces the individual to pursue materialism in a manner that makes material gains an axis on which the mind rotates; and insatiable desire for material wealth becomes the primary objective of life. It is perchance to this kind of mentality that Allah refers to when posing the question…have you seen the person who makes a god of his desires?  [Qur’an 45:23]

An ancient Taoist saying goes…

There is no crime greater than having too many desires;
There is no disaster greater than not being content;
There is no misfortune greater than being greedy. [Tao Te Ching 46]

Wise ones have said that …You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.  Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that true wealth is not in how much you have, but in how contented you are with what you have.Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) thus prayed …

اللهم اني أعوذبك من نفس لا تشبع

“O Allah! I seek Thy protection from a self that is never gratified.”

b)  Bukhl/ بخل = Miserliness/Stinginess

Those who are stingy due to fear that spending/generosity will deplete their wealth, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:

A person says, "this is my wealth, my things" but all that he really has is 3;

What he consumes and digests, what he wears and wears out,

or what he gives in charity and it continues to benefit

The rest you leave behind when you depart from this world.”

The Prophet (pbuh) warned:

لا يدخل الجنة خب و لا بخيل و لا منان

"The deceiver, the miser and the one who keeps reminding others of his generosity will not enter Paradise."

Possible Solution

Unless there is …

(1) cessation of the various forms of oppression manifest in the unjust distribution of economic resources

(2) disciplining of "human nature to achieve control of the instinct of self‑love

(3) utilization of economic resources to satisfy the needs of all humanity.

The world will continue on a downward economic spiral.

We are instructed not be greedy, neither stingy/selfish, nor wasteful, nor extravagant.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) thus ---

-       prayed …اللهم اني أعوذبك من نفس لا تشبع O Allah! I seek Thy protection from a self that is never gratified.

-       warned … لا يدخل الجنة لا بخيل

-       said … that Allah loves not اضاعة المال wasting of resources

-       quoted …وَلاَ تُسْرِفُواْ إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ  extravagant, for Allah loves not the wasteful/extravagant. [Q6:141]

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By: Imam Sadullah Khan

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