Have a fixed salary, but the debt is not yet paid off? Or even irregular income, and confused about how to manage it? While needs continue to run, the desire to save is also there, not to mention the urge to still be able to give alms. This is a real dilemma. In the midst of all these demands, the ability to manage finances from salary is the main savior.
Islam provides clear guidance in managing finances, especially when conditions are not yet stable. Managing finances is not just about planning, but also about responsibility and blessings. This article will help you set priorities, not just to be frugal, but based on sharia.
Debt Position in Islam: Allowed, But Not a Toy
In Islam, debt is allowed but not for toys or lifestyle. The Prophet ﷺ himself was in debt, but with limits, a straight intention, and a repayment plan. So, if you feel that your income is often running out, or your debt is increasing, the basic question is not just “is my salary enough or not?”, but more: “Have I managed my finances and allocated this salary for what?”
This is the critical point. Managing finances from a salary means not only recording income, but also setting priorities. What percentage is for basic needs? How much is to pay debt? Is there room for charity or emergency funds, even if it is small?
A salary of 3 million or 10 million will quickly run out if not managed clearly. Even a large salary can feel small if used without direction. Therefore, managing finances while still having debt must start from the awareness that debt is a serious burden, not just a monthly burden that is postponed.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
نَفْسُ الْمُؤْمِنِ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِدَيْنِهِ حَتَّى يُقْضَى عَنْهُ
“The soul of a believer is attached to his debt until it is paid off.” (Narrated by Tirmidhi)
This means that as long as the debt has not been paid off, the affairs of the afterlife can be held back. So, no matter how much our income is, the important question is: have we managed our finances from our salary to pay off our obligations, or have we let our debts pile up for our desires?
Managing our salary is not a matter of “enough or not,” but a matter of the willingness to be disciplined in prioritizing what is obligatory, and not making debt a quick solution without a long-term plan.
Also read: Liquidity Ratio: Can Your Business Pay Short-Term Debt?
Priority Scale: Obligations First, Then Desires
After understanding that debt is serious, now is the time to unpack one important thing: have we set a priority scale in managing finances from salary? Or maybe, our salary is actually spent on things that are not actually urgent?
Allah ﷻ says:
وَلَا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلَا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ ٱلْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَّحْسُورًا
“And do not make your hands chained to your neck (too stingy), and do not stretch it out too much (too wasteful), so that you do not become blameworthy and regretful.” (QS. Al-Isra: 29)
This verse emphasizes the importance of tawassuth, a middle attitude between wastefulness and stinginess. In the context of managing finances from salary, it means: we should not hold back all the money because we are afraid of being poor, but we should also not waste it as if there is no debt.
So, in managing finances, start with a simple question: “What is my salary for?” “Have I managed my finances based on a clear scale of priorities?”
Here is an Example of Monthly Salary Division (IDR 4,000,000) to Manage Finances:
| Manage Finances | Ideal Percentage | Estimated Amount (Rp) |
| Basic needs | 50–60% | 2,000,000 – 2,400,000 |
| Installments/debt repayment | 20–30% | 800,000 – 1,200,000 |
| Emergency savings | 10% | 400,000 |
| Regular charity | 5–10% | 200,000 – 400,000 |
| Personal desires | Remainder | 0 – 200,000 |
If your salary is 4 million per month, at least 800 thousand to 1 million must be allocated to pay off debt, don’t delay. If you can’t afford it all at once, pay it off with a strong intention. Remember the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once said:
مَنْ أَخَذَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ يُرِيدُ أَدَاءَهَا أَدَّى اللَّهُ عَنْه
“Whoever has a debt with the intention of paying it off, Allah will help him pay it off.” (Narrated by Bukhari)
This argument is not only motivation, but also an opener to blessings. As long as there is an honest intention and real effort, Allah ﷻ will open a way to pay it off, including from unexpected paths.
Read also: Solvency Ratios: Can Your Business Pay Off Future Debts?
Practical Tips for Managing Finances from Salary When You Still Have Debt
Sometimes, debt problems are not just about the amount but also about the pattern. If we don’t change our mindset and how we manage our finances, our salary will still feel insufficient. So here are some practical tips for managing finances from salary, especially when you still have debt:
- Write Down All Debts and Mandatory Expenses
Don’t just rely on your memory. Sit down for a while, take a notebook or spreadsheet, then write down all debts: who gave them, the amount, and the due date. Then continue with a list of basic needs and fixed monthly costs (electricity, food, transportation, etc.).
Why is it important? Because many people feel that their salary is not enough, when in fact they just don’t know where their money is going. Knowing the specific numbers is the first step in managing finances wisely. - Prioritize Needs and Obligations
Debt is an obligation. Eating is a necessity. But hanging out, subscribing to entertainment, or impulsive shopping are desires. In our biggest test in managing finances: daring to make desires in order to fulfill obligations.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مَنْ أَخَذَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ يُرِيدُ أَدَاءَهَا أَدَّى اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
“Whoever collaborates with the intention of paying it off, Allah will help him pay it off.” (Narrated by Bukhari)
If your intention is good and your efforts are clear, God willing, a way out will be opened. But it all starts with the intention to manage finances with discipline, not running away from responsibility.
- Set aside for Debt at the Beginning, Not the Leftovers
Don’t wait until the end of the month. As soon as your salary comes in, immediately allocate it to pay installments or save specifically for repayment. Just think of it as “someone else’s salary” that you have entrusted to be returned.
If we wait for the remainder, usually there will be none. Therefore, make debt repayment a priority expense, not just a plan. Because this also starts from devotion to Allah ﷻ . From there we can be given other conveniences.
Similar to the word of Allah ﷻ:
وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًۭا • وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ
“And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect.” (QS. At-Talaq: 2–3)
Also read: Fulfilling Qurban While in Debt: Is It Possible?
Conclusion: Debt Is Not the End, But an Alarm
Debt is not the end of the world. But it is a warning that there is something that needs to be fixed in the way we manage our finances from salary. Don’t wait for ideal conditions to start getting organized. Precisely when conditions are tight, that is the moment to build a strong foundation of discipline.
Start small: record expenses, prioritize, and pay debts with honest intentions. Do it patiently, and be sure that Allah ﷻ always helps His servants who really want to get out of the trap of debt.
Also read: 3 Ways to Make Money That Islam Forbids
References:
Al-Qur’an Al-Karim https://tafsirweb.com
Tirmidhi, Abu Isa Muhammad bin Isa. Sunan At-Tirmidhi. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/
Al-Bukhari, Muhammad bin Ismail. Sahih al-Bukhari. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/bukhari
