AL-HIKMAT - THE WISDOM WEBSITE Serving the Muslim and Non-Muslim Community for the past 28 years, through the distribution of publications, DVD's, CD's, radio & TV shows, lectures, seminars, dialogues etc.,establishing tolerance and better understanding among different faiths and cultures. AL QUR'AAN Ch: 16 V: 125 “Invite To the Way of Thy Lord With Hikmat” (Wisdom).

With the rise of prices in gas and food stuff today, Muslims should pay heed to the the Islamic way of life as apposed to living a life of extravagance for pomp and show. A Muslim should not make this world his main concern. Muslims should be examples, rather than people competing with the materialistic things in life. It was narrated that ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “ It is not poverty that I fear for you, rather what I fear for you is that worldly riches may be given to you as they were given to those who came before you, and you will compete for them with one another as they competed with one another, and you will be destroyed as they were destroyed.” This shows that the one to whom the delights of this world open up should beware of their bad consequences and the evil of their temptation, and he should not be at ease with its adornments or compete with others for them. Allaah says Ch: 57 Verse: 20 “Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment” One of the signs that people may be destroyed by their competing in worldly gains is their buying large unnecessary houses to compete with others in society. A person exposes himself to the wrath and anger of Allaah by competing with others in building or buying an extravagant house and in decorating it for pomp and show. Extravagance is that which oversteps the limit. Allaah the Exalted, has stated in the Qur’aan that He does not love extravagance. A thing may be extravagant in the case of one person, but not in the case of another. The man who bought a house for one million dollars, and furnished it to his pleasure – if he is rich then it is not of extravagance if it is necessary and was done sincerely for the happiness of himself and his family, to please Allaah. But if he is not rich and spends lavishly for pomp and show, then that would be considered extravagance. For in most cases such people go beyond their means to borrow and live a life of stress just to please society.

The rise in prices today should be used as an opportunity for Muslims to change their lifestyle and live the way Allaah and His Prophet S.A.W. has guided us to do Inshaa Allaah.