Reasons to be Frugal

These days there are many reminders of why we should be frugal. The fall of the stock market, the biggest fall in consumer confidence in thirty years, and the housing crisis all seem to be the top stories anytime we turn on the news. The other day when I was watching CNN, I heard one of the commentators say that the current financial situation could mean that the United States will be forced into becoming a primarily cash economy. To me, that doesn't sound like an entirely bad thing.

The best reminders of the importance of frugality, though, are a part of our Deen (religion). The following sayings of the Prophet Muhammad are from The Content of Character: Ethical Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.

• The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said, "Abandon desire for this world and God will love you. Abandon desire for others' goods, and people will love you." Ibn Majah

• The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said, "Fulfillment is not plenty of goods; rather, it is self-fulfillment." Al-Bukhari and Muslim

• The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said, "God enriches the thrifty and impoverishes the spendthrift; God elevates the humble and whoever tyrannizes others God will crush him." Al-Bazar