General

AbuBakr came and sought permission to see Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him).   He found people sitting at his door and none amongst them had been granted permission, but it was granted to AbuBakr and he went in. Then came Umar and he sought permission and it was granted to him and he found Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) sitting sad and silent with his wives around him.

He (Umar) said: I wanted say something which would make the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) laugh, so he said: Messenger of Allah, I wish you had seen (the treatment meted out to) the daughter of Kharijah when she asked me for some money, and I got up and slapped her on her neck. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) laughed and said: They are around me as you see, asking for extra money.

AbuBakr then got up, went to Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) and slapped her on the neck, and Umar stood up before Hafsah and slapped her saying: You ask Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) for that which he does not possess. They said: By Allah, we do not ask Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) for anything he does not possess. Then he withdrew from them for a month or for twenty-nine days.*

Then this verse was revealed to him: "O Prophet (Muhammad SAW)! Say to your wives: If you desire the life of this world, and its glitter, Then come! I will make a provision for you and set you free in a handsome manner (divorce)." [Qur'an 33:28] He then went to Aisha and said: I want to propound something to you, Aisha, but want no hasty reply before you consult your parents. She said: Messenger of Allah, what is that? He (the Holy Prophet) recited to her the verse, whereupon she said: Is it about you that I should consult my parents, Messenger of Allah? Nay, I choose Allah, His Messenger, and the Last Abode; but I ask you not to tell any of your wives what I have said. He replied: Not one of them will ask me without my informing her. God did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make things easy.

*It was customary that he would withdraw at times of revelation. Withdrawing for such an extended period is not a recommended course of action for a husband when dealing with a marital problem such as finances and a wife who may not be pleased with his financial standing.

In the Middle Course with Spending

The Noble Qur'an - al-Talaaq 65:7

“Let the rich man spend according to his means, and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allaah has given him…”

The Noble Qur'an - 17:26

And give to the kindred his due and to the Miskîn (poor) and to the wayfarer. But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift* . [Tafsir. At-Tabarî, Vol. 10, Page 158 (Verse 9: 60)]. 

*You have to follow a middle course in your spendings --- neither a miser nor a spendthrift, and not to be like those who spend in the disobedience of Allah and His Messenger saaws.

Noble Quran 2:188

And eat up not one another'

Related Links: Choices  |  Extremism

Action Items for the uttaqun:

• Spend within your means.

• Remember: "You can't take it with you!" ("It" = money, etc.)

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!