وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامًا
« Those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor stingy, but keep to the balance between the two. » (meaning of the verse, Al-Furqan 25:67)
This is how the Quran describes the servants of the Most Merciful. Managing one's money is not a matter for the rich: it is part of the religion, and it begins with the first salary.
Neither waste nor stinginess
« Do not waste: the wasteful are the brothers of the devils » (17:26-27). « Eat and drink, but do not be excessive » (7:31). And in the other direction: « Do not keep your hand chained to your neck, nor open it completely, lest you end up blamed and destitute » (17:29).
The order of priorities
« The dinar you spend in the path of Allah, the one you spend to free a slave, the one you give to a poor person, and the one you spend on your family: the greatest in reward is the one you spend on your family » (Sahih Muslim, no. 995).
« When a man spends on his family seeking the reward of Allah, it is charity for him » (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 5351; Sahih Muslim, no. 1002).
« The best charity is that which leaves one free from need. Begin with those you are responsible for » (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 1427; Sahih Muslim, no. 1034).
The order is therefore: household needs, debts, then charity and what is surplus. Giving a large sum to a ceremony while the rent is unpaid reverses the order.
A simple breakdown
Every household is different; this table is a starting point, not a religious rule.
| Item | Guideline | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Household needs (rent, food, health, schooling, transport) | The largest share | It is an obligation, and a charity. |
| Debts | Before everything else | A debt takes precedence over a gift. |
| Savings | A fixed share, right from payday | Even a small amount: consistency is what counts. |
| Charity and the extended family | A chosen share | Regular rather than spectacular. |
| Zakat | 2.5% of savings above the threshold, after one lunar year | Write "zakat" to Dalil to calculate it. |
| Leisure and celebrations | What remains | Without going into debt to appear well-off. |
Saving is a sunna
Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas wanted to bequeath the largest part of his wealth. The Prophet ﷺ said to him: "A third, and a third is a lot. Leaving your heirs secure from need is better than leaving them in poverty, begging people with their hands" (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 2742; Sahih Muslim, no. 1628).
Planning for your family is not a lack of trust in Allah: trust is what takes the means.
Expenses that bring you down
- Ceremonies (weddings, naming ceremonies, funerals) beyond one's means: blessing does not depend on the number of wrappers.
- Consumer credit for a phone or an outfit.
- Bets and gambling, forbidden, and which ruin the most modest people first.
- Small daily expenses that we never write down.
Three acts
1. Write down for a month, track everything that goes out: only correct what you can see. 2. Decide together as a couple ： in a couple, the budget should be discussed. 3. Invoke ： The Prophet ﷺ used to seek refuge from "the burden of debt and the domination of men" (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6369).
For a specific situation (heavy debt, sharing household expenses as a couple, supporting parents), speak with your imam.