Resource Management

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah,

Today's sermon revolved around how we, as Muslims, should manage the resources granted by Allah to us. The resources can be in many forms, financial, materials, intellectuals, time, so on and so forth.

When speaking about the management of all of these resources, Muslims should be the frontrunners in doing this efficiently. Why? Because we have the history, we have the unbeatable legacy, we have strong references (Al-Quran & Hadiths) and we have enough manpower. And above all, all of us will be accountable to the way we spend our resources, thus we should be more careful than the others in managing all of these resources.

It is sad to admit that, we are very bad in it. Our carelessness and insensitivities about time-keeping, for example, have resulted in below average productivity in our countries. The consequence is that we are depending on non-muslims countries in almost every aspect of our lives. Food, education, clothing are mainly imported from them. More important than that is the fact that we will be judged and repaid by Allah according to what we have done to the resources (which are ni'mah) given by Allah to us.

Remember when Allah (s.w.t) says in Al-Quran, in Suratul Asr,

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
By (the Token of) time (through the Ages), (1) Verily Man is in loss, (2) Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy. (3)

In Suratul Kahfi, verses 102-108, the meaning of people who lose is again defined;

(102) Say: "Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds?― (103) "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?" (104) They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works, nor shall We on the Day of Judgment, give them any Weight. (105) That is their reward, Hell; because they rejected Faith, and took My Signs and My Messengers by way of jest. (106) As to those who believe and work righteous deeds, they have, for their entertainment, the Gardens of Paradise (107) Wherein they shall dwell (for aye): no change will they wish for themselves. (108).

Even though it is not directly mentioned in the above verses, in essence, we, as Muslims should be managing our resouces more effectively and efficiently than other people. When we promise, we should keep our promise, when we eat, we eat just to relieve our hunger so that we can worship Allah, when we dress, we use clothings that are adequate to protect us from different weather condition and to close our dignity and aurah. We should not be wasting resources by not keeping time, by having too much food leftover, by wearing more-than-needed clothing, by using nice and expensive car just for the sake of status in the society and so on. We are asked to be moderate in consuming and using all of these things which should be used only for their practicalities instead of for protecting the status or for indulging in excessive lifestyles.

Wallahu 'alam and TBC