AUSTERITY AND THE ECONOMIC SUNNAH
Muslims must be advised to adopt
that life of moderation, simplicity and austerity which is the essence of the
economic Sunnah, and which not only makes it possible to extricate themselves
from debt and riba but also, makes savings possible. And so, a
major element in the overall strategy against riba must be the
inculcation of the economic Sunnah as it relates to simplicity, austerity and
moderation in living. Such a lifestyle is not possible for those given to
excessive consumption, an example of which is commonly found in overeating. And
so the Qur’an warns, with language of great severity, against such:
Eat of
the good (and wholesome) things which We have provided for your sustenance. but
commit no excess therein, lest My wrath should justly descend on you; and those
on whom My wrath descends surely perish.
(Qur’an; Ta Ha;-20:81)
... and
eat and drink but do not be immoderate or intemperate: verily He does not love
those who are immoderate or intemperate.
(Qur’an: al-'Araf-7:31)
Abu Hurairah
reported Allah's Messenger as saying. My Lord has given me nine commands -
to fear Allah in private and in public;
to speak justly both when angry and when pleased;
to show moderation both when poor and when rich;
to reunite friendship with those who have broken it off with me;
to give to him who refuses me;
to forgive him who has wronged me;
that my silence should be occupied with thought:
that my utterance should be occupied with mention of Allah;
that my looking should be an admonition;
and that I should command what is good and virtuous.
to fear Allah in private and in public;
to speak justly both when angry and when pleased;
to show moderation both when poor and when rich;
to reunite friendship with those who have broken it off with me;
to give to him who refuses me;
to forgive him who has wronged me;
that my silence should be occupied with thought:
that my utterance should be occupied with mention of Allah;
that my looking should be an admonition;
and that I should command what is good and virtuous.
(Razin)
The Prophet (s) is
also reported to have said:
Each one of us
does not need more, in this world, than the provisions which a traveler takes
with him on a journey.
How much, we
well may ask, did he, the Messenger of Allah the Most High, take with him
during his journey of life?
Aisha said
that Muhammad's family did not have enough barley-bread to satisfy them on two
consecutive days up to the time when Allah's Messenger was taken in death.
(Bukhari, Muslim)
Sa'id
al-Maqburi quoted Abu Hurairah to the effect that when he passed some people
who had a roasted sheep in front of them and invited him to eat, he refused to
do so, saying: Allah’s Messenger left this world without ever having had a full
meal of barley bread.
(Bukhari)
Anas said that
he took some barley bread and rancid fat to the Prophet who had given a coat-of-mail
of his to a Jew in Madinah and received from him some barley for his family.
The transmitter reported that he heard Anas say Muhammad's family had in the
evening a sa of wheat or a sa of grain, yet he had nine wives.
(Bukhari)
Umar said that
he went in to see Allah's Messenger and found him lying on a reed mat with no
sheet between him and it, with marks of the mat on his side, and supporting
himself on a leather cushion stuffed with palm fibers. I said: Messenger of
Allah, pray to Allah to enrich your people, for He has enriched the Persians
and the Byzantines, yet they do not worship Allah. He replied: Is that how you
feel, Ibn Khattab? These people have been given their good things in advance in
the present world.
A version has: Are you not pleased that they should have the present world and we should have the next?
A version has: Are you not pleased that they should have the present world and we should have the next?
(Bukhari, Muslim)
Mu'adh bin
Jabal said that when Allah's Messenger sent him to Yemen he Said Beware of
living extravagantly (or sumptuously), far Allah's servants do not live
extravagantly.
(Ahmad)
Ali reported
Allah's Messenger as saying: If anyone is satisfied with small provisions from
Allah, Allah will be satisfied with a few good deeds from him.
(Baihaqi)
to be continued . . . .
