Sister in Islam, did you check your closet?

muslim woman hijabs
Does your closet look like this?

It has become common for us as an immigrant to deal with a friend (or even ourselves) who arrives and leaves from a country. Either go back to our countries or migrate to another country. For us this is very tiring because we had to start again a new life, new job, school (for children), and off course new environment.

One time my friend who moved to Kuwait said, “I feel unlucky”.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because I have so bored and exhausted to move around the places,” she said. Packing up isn’t an easy task for one who has lived for more than three years in this country.

Every friend who will move to other place/ country always has the same problem with the items inside the house. This made me interested to calculate furniture in my house. First when I came to Jeddah eight years ago, I only brought about four suitcases. But now, what my home is packed! Sofas, tables, cabinets, dining tables, chairs, beds, electrical goods, kitchen furniture, and much more. The clothes that originally only fit in four large suitcases for  the whole family, now are getting more and not enough to fit inside my cabinets! And if we die there is not even one thing we carry. It is true said the sage, “a closet, small or large is always full!”

Muslim Women and Family on the move
Oh Muslima, Can you take this with you?

Back to my friend…so,  she is busy throwing away children’s toys that may have been damaged, unused papers, and separating children’s clothes that do not fit anymore. Sporting goods, bicycles, TV, closet, beds and all the items that cannot be taken and not sold. Once my friend said, in her house many items were purchased but seldom been worn. Consequently, when it is time to move, it burdens us.

I also realize, I am too often tempted to buy something that may only be a desire and not necessity, especially if there are big discounts at the mall! Clothes, shoes, bags, books, household items on sale are often attractive!  If I look my cabinets sometimes the door cannot be closed!. Why? Because it is not the things that are less, but a cabinet or container is added to accommodate my things!  Now… I’ve been trying to control myself, and I made a promise to myself that if I want to buy a new one, I should donate the older or other items in my space.

Once I tried to calculate the “asset” at my house. I try to count the number of headscarf in my closet. Seventy-two! Why are that much? Although in fact I only wear a few. Sister, if we try to calculate the unused items with US dollar, approximately how many dollars we can give to the needy children, the poor, orphans, mosques, etc.? Headscarves as an example above, if I never use the 50 pieces of my headscarves,  the price of each  scarf for instance is 10 USD, multiplied by 50 pieces is 500 USD. With the money I could help to pay the first month of Quran school tuition of 99 children in my country!

As expressed by Bilal RA, Muhammad Rasulullah SAW said to him, “O Bilal, died in poor, and not die in rich.”

“Why, O Messenger of Allah?” Said Bilal.

Muhammad Rasulullah SAW said, “Because that was supposed to be, or the fire of hell.” (hadits narrated by Thabrani).

People who died in poor had no responsibility for his property, however rich people  has the obligations of the property he is owned to  charity, provide for orphans, widows, and so forth.

However, do not misunderstand that Muslims should not be rich. Muslims should be rich but also must wisely spend their wealth because this will be accounted for in the hereafter.

So, why don’t you check your closet right now?

 

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