7Take Control of Your Spending

Fawzooz prayed that God would bless his provision and help him control his desires and his spending. He decided to challenge himself with a “no-spend challenge”, inspired by his faith’s teachings that encourage contentment with what God has allotted. He reflected on God’s words: “And if God had extended provision to His servants, they would have transgressed on earth,” sensing that extravagance and waste are not the traits of a believer. He made a plan to live simply, avoiding buying anything unnecessary and limiting himself to basic needs. He began by evaluating his lifestyle, distinguishing between needs and wants, and identifying the essentials such as food and medicine.

He recalled the idea of self-sufficiency and contentment with little that the Prophet, peace be upon him, spoke of, and with this resolve he took on the no-spend challenge. During it, Fawzooz no longer saw money as an end, but as a means to stability and sufficiency, and he found great happiness in giving and sharing. His savings grew, and with them his sense of gratitude and contentment. Through this challenge, he realised the value of living in a way that pleases God, and regained control over his money instead of letting money control him.

“Controlling spending and embracing a simple lifestyle redefines wealth; true riches lie in contentment and sufficiency, which lead to financial and spiritual freedom.”

He learned that simplicity in life can be a path to true wealth: wealth of the self and the soul. So, at the end of the fourteenth day of his challenge, Fawzooz shared with readers how adopting firm financial habits and seeking financial freedom should go hand in hand with Islamic guidance for a life filled with contentment and trust in God.