Have you ever felt like your money always runs out quickly? It’s just the beginning of the month, but your wallet is already thin. Salary comes in, then it goes out immediately. It feels like you haven’t even breathed a sigh of relief, needs keep coming. Even though it doesn’t mean that we are wasteful, it’s just that, finances are not yet stable. This is where financial management is important. But not just any management because we will discuss it from an Islamic perspective, so that you are not only financially healthy, but also have rewards and blessings.
Well, many people think that financial management is just a technical matter. In fact, in Islam, wealth is not just a means of exchange, but a mandate from Allah ﷻ. So, when your financial condition is not yet stable, that is the most appropriate time to start learning to manage your finances. Not later when you are rich. In fact, financial management starts from limitations, not from abundance.
Unstable Finances, But Life Must Go On
If we are honest, many of us are in a financial phase that is not yet ideal. Salaries are just enough, household needs are increasing, sometimes to the point of having to dig a hole to cover a hole. Consumptive debts are piling up, expenses are not recorded, and the most obvious: stress due to financial problems.
This problem is not just a matter of the wallet. But it also concerns household harmony, a sense of security, and even the spirit of worship. People whose minds are full of bills usually find it difficult to focus on many things, which could include worship. Not to mention the feeling of guilt that arises because they have not been able to provide the best for the family’s livelihood.
So, what is the solution? Of course not by waiting for a salary increase. But by starting financial management even though finances are not yet stable. Because finances will never be stable without knowledge and self-control.
Also read: 7 Principles of Transparency for Islamic Family Financial Planning
Wealth is a Trust, Not Just Ownership
In Islam, wealth is not the absolute property of humans. We are only entrusted with it. Allah ﷻ says:
۞ آمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَأَنفِقُوا مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ
“And believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend of your wealth which Allah has made you rulers of…” (QS. Al-Hadid: 7)
Wealth is a trust from Allah ﷻ, we are only appointed as mustakhlaf, temporary managers. So wealth management or financial management is not just a matter of efficiency, but of worship.
Rasulullah ﷺ also said:
لَا تَزُولُ قَدَمَا عَبْدٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى يُسْأَلَ… وَعَنْ مَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَ أنفقهُ
“A servant’s feet will not move on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked… and about his wealth, from where he earned it and where he spent it.” (HR. Tirmidhi)
Imagine, even when our lives are full of shortcomings, management must still be accounted for. So don’t wait until you’re rich to learn how to manage. Financial management is part of the reckoning.
Also read: How to Manage Personal Finances of the Prophet Muhammad’s Companions
First Steps: Set Priorities & Avoid Extravagant Lifestyle
Okay, now we move on to practical steps. When our financial condition is not yet stable, we must be honest about the condition. This means we need to set priorities. Which are really basic needs, which are just hidden desires.
Allah ﷻ has reminded us not to be excessive, especially in things that are forbidden:
وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا، إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ
“And do not waste (your wealth) wastefully. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of Satan.” (QS. Al-Isra’: 26–27)
If desires are not controlled, we will always feel lacking. In fact, whether or not sustenance is sufficient is often not a matter of nominal value, but of financial management and blessings.
Here are some initial steps that you can try right away:
- Record all expenses. Daily, weekly, monthly.
- Use the envelope method or a simple recording application.
- Separate money for needs, charity, and debt.
- Discuss with your partner. Household finances must be managed together, not blaming each other.
Start by living simply, not being stingy, but realizing that lifestyle is not a means of proving oneself. Simple is not poor, but that is intelligence in financial management.
Also read: Financial Management during the Caliphate of Umar bin Khattab radhiyallahu anhu
Conclusion: Start From What You Have, With the Right Intention
If you currently feel that your finances are not stable, don’t immediately blame your salary, market prices, or the world economy. Sometimes what needs to be fixed first is our mindset about wealth. Islam teaches us to be responsible, not to wait for great sustenance to come without preparation.
Financial management is not about being stingy, but about being careful, orderly, and obedient. That’s where the blessings will come from. Let’s start with small steps: record, plan, and pray. Because the blessing of wealth does not come from the amount, but from how we manage it according to sharia.
Also read: Smart Money Management Tips For Homemakers
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References
Al-Qur’an Al-Karim https://tafsirweb.com
Tirmidzi, Abu Isa Muhammad bin Isa. Sunan At-Tirmidzi. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/
