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Fulfilling Islamic Obligations in a Cost-of-Living Crisis

Fulfilling Islamic Obligations in a Cost-of-Living Crisis

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis has affected many people across the world. Muslims who pay Zakat, give Qurbani and give charity such as Sadaqah may feel the pinch and worry about their financial state and ability to give money to charity for the sake of Allah.

Here are some tips that can help you to afford and fulfil Islamic obligations following the pandemic and during the cost-of-living crisis in 2023.

1- Budget.

By putting aside a certain amount every week or every month, you can save more and put it towards Sadaqah or Qurbani, for example. Sadaqah is a voluntary act of charity, and there is no set amount one has to give. So, by putting aside perhaps £5 a week or £30 a month, you can give Sadaqah on a regular basis without financially struggling too much to meet your own needs.

By putting aside just £20 a month to donate to charity, you can reach £240 in a year, which can be used to help those less fortunate such as orphans and widows, or for schools and hospitals in poorer countries. See the rewards of giving charity in Islam here.

If you don’t know what a good starting amount for budgeting would be, try tracking your spending for a month to see what you spend most on, whether it be groceries, utilities, rent, transportation or leisure activities, and then cut a little bit from one or from each to save a fair amount!

2- Choose your Qurbani wisely.

Different Qurbani animals cost different amounts, and you should take into consideration the country you are having it sacrificed in! Animals in Pakistan, for example, won’t be as expensive as Qurbani given in Palestine. For Qurbani-eligible animals, these are the following requirements:

Sheep and Goats – must be at least 1 year old. This is enough for one person’s Qurbani.

Cows and Buffalo – must be at least 2 years old. This is enough for seven people’s Qurbani.

Camels – must be at least 5 years old. This is enough for seven people’s Qurbani.

Selecting to sacrifice a goat or sheep will be cheaper than giving Qurbani for a Camel or Cow, so this is a way to be able to afford Qurbani while still fulfilling the religious obligation. Qurbani is compulsory for every Muslim sane adult who holds wealth that is above the Nisab level (the minimum amount of wealth required to be considered wealthy).

3- Cancel unnecessary subscriptions or services.

By doing so, you can put this money, whether it be £10 a month or £100 a month, towards a more important cause for Allah’s sake. This is a good idea for saving up for Hajj or Umrah, which is very costly in today’s age, but by making sacrifices, you can afford to go by Allah’s will.

Hajj is compulsory for every able Muslim, but many times Muslims struggle due to the costs. By saving up every month or by stopping paying for unnecessary things, you will be able to save up a pretty decent amount within a short period of time. This money can be put towards Hajj, Umrah, Qurbani, Sadaqah, or Sadaqah Jariyah causes.

Click here to read some more saving money tips.

Ultimately, if you make a clear and pure intention to fulfil your Islamic obligations of Hajj, Qurbani or Zakat, Allah (SWT) will reward you for this, regardless of whether you can or cannot perform them.

Use the tips above to start saving money and being able to afford to uphold your Zakat, Qurbani, Hajj and Umrah this year in 2023.

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