Still trying to separate obedience from financial matters?
If so, perhaps you’ve felt this way: you’re obedient, diligently attend religious studies, and consistently give alms, but life still feels chaotic, especially when it comes to money. Your salary comes in, but you don’t know where it’s going. Sometimes you’re enthusiastic about participating in various investment programs, but the results are unclear. Even more distressing, you’re secretly still caught up in usury.
On the one hand, we feel like we’re on the path of obedience we pray five times a day, we’ve set a goal to memorize the Quran, and perhaps we’re even actively preaching. But on the other hand, why do our financial affairs feel so out of control?
Yet, if asked, “What is our purpose in life?”, almost all of us would answer: “To live a blessed life, be safe in this world and the hereafter, and be pleased with Allah ﷻ.”
That’s a great answer. But let’s be honest for a moment are the ways we earn, manage, and spend our money directed toward that noble goal? Or are they perhaps working against it?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
وَعَنْ مَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ، وَفِيمَ أَنْفَقَه ُ
“…and about his wealth: where he gets it and where he spends it.”
(HR. Tirmidhi , No. 2341)
This hadith is not simply a reminder about financial reporting in the afterlife. But it is a clear sign that the matter of wealth where we earn it and how we distribute it is part of our obedience. It cannot be considered neutral, let alone separated from religion.
So, from the start, we need to realize that managing our finances is not just a matter of worldly strategy, but part of our worship for which we will one day be accountable before Allah.
From this point on, we should begin to ask ourselves: “Actually, what is our relationship with Allah in matters of sustenance and wealth?”
Realizing that Allah’s sustenance is not just about effort
Sometimes we’re so busy chasing income that we forget that the true source of sustenance is Allah . We work hard, learn about investing, sell online, and even participate in this and that project, but we still feel anxious. Is it enough? Is it growing? After all, all our sustenance has been measured.
Allah ﷻ says:
” وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا ”
“And there is not a single creeping creature on earth except Allah who provides its sustenance.”
(QS. Hūd : 6)
This doesn’t mean we stop striving, but we should realize that striving isn’t the primary cause of sustenance. Effort is part of obedience, but it is Allah, the Almighty, who determines the extent of our sustenance . We can’t guarantee our salary or our trading profits, but we can ensure that our efforts are in accordance with Islamic law.
That’s why many people are visibly successful, but their lives are far from peaceful. Because their goal isn’t Allah (ﷻ ). Because they believe they are the source of everything. Yet, the wealth that comes is not only a blessing, but also a test. And therein lies the most crucial point in Islamic financial management: understanding who owns our wealth and our role as stewards.
This awareness will shape our attitudes. We become more careful in choosing ways to earn money. We also become calmer in difficult situations. Because we know: life isn’t about accumulating as much as possible, but how diligently we manage it.
After realizing who provides sustenance, we must also reaffirm: if Allah is the one who provides, why does He actually give us wealth? This is where understanding our role and responsibility regarding wealth becomes crucial.
Also read: Status-Driven Lifestyles in Islam
Wealth is not just our property, but a trust for our life’s purpose.
One of the pitfalls of today is when people feel, “This is the fruit of my hard work, my right, and it’s up to me to use it however I want.” However, in Islam, wealth is not the absolute property of humans.
Allah ﷻ says:
” وَآتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُم ْ”
“And give them some of the treasures of Allah that He has given you.”
(QS. An-Nur: 33 )
Note: Allah ﷻ calls it “His wealth” that He has entrusted to us. Clearly, we are merely guardians or trustees of what we possess. This overturns the worldly paradigm of capitalism and individualism.
Also read: How to Protect Yourself from Inflation through Islamic Investment
If wealth is entrusted to us, then we should use it according to the mandate from the One who entrusted it. This is where financial obedience comes into play. We become more focused on whether our spending reflects a noble life purpose. Do our investments support a halal economy and grow together? Are we providing for our needs according to our obligations and responsibly?
Even when we save or plan for the future, we must realize that it’s not just for a sense of security , but to support our role as servants. We need to provide for our families, help those in need, support legitimate businesses, and be part of the solution for the community. This is where we find the full meaning of life’s purpose .
Also read: The Role of the Muslim Ummah in Their Unity
Khatimah: Managing Money Is Part of the Path to Allah ﷻ
We often divide life into two: “worship” and “real life.” But Islam views both as one. Managing money is not merely a worldly activity, but part of the path to Allah ﷻ . It is both a field of reward and a field of trial.
When we realize that the purpose of life is to seek Allah’s pleasure , every financial activity must be directed toward that goal. From our intention to earn a living, to how we earn it, to how we spend it, to how we respond to the results.
Provisions do not come from our own abilities, but from Allah ﷻ . Wealth is not ours, but a trust that we must manage according to His guidance. Therefore, financial obedience is not an extra, but a core part of a righteous life.
Let’s reflect: is our financial orientation aligned with our life orientation? We shouldn’t feel like we’re heading toward heaven when our financial steps are pointing in the opposite direction.
Also read: Wealth as a Tool, Not a Goal in Islam
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Reference
Al-Qur’an al-Karim.
At-Tirmidhi, Abu ‘Isa Muhammad ibn ‘Isa. Sunan at-Tirmidhi , Hadith no. 2341. Accessed from: https://www.hadits.id/hadits/tirmidzi/2341
Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Tafsir QS. Hūd: 6 and QS. An-Nur: 33. Retrieved from: https://tafsirweb.com/