with its incessant stream of commercials, have more materialistic values. It is only now that psychologists are acknowledging that materialistic values are associated with increased depression, anxiety, substance abuse, interpersonal problems and antisocial behaviour.
aged people to spend from their disposable wealth and condemned those who are miserly. For it is spending that offers the opportunity for suppliers to meet consumer demand which in itself creates jobs and the circulation of wealth via the production and consumption of goods and services.
The American Psychological Association published a statement in 2000 stating, "studies on 'materialism' show that individuals highly focused on materialistic values also report less satisfaction with life...worse interpersonal relationships, more drug and alcohol abuse, and less contribution to community... [and this process contributes] to the formation of a shallow 'consumer identity' that is obsessed with instant gratification and material wealth."
Evidence of Islam's promotion of consumption and spending can be seen in the hadith narrated by At-Tirmidhi from Abdullah ibn Amr who said:
Western psychologists are finally recognising what Islam explained fourteen centuries ago. Rasool Allah said,
HOW ISLAM PREVENTS ONE FALLING INTO THE DEBT TRAP
"The Prophet said, "Allah likes to see the signs of His favour (bounties) on His servant."
The debt trap and the downward spiral of the debt trap should never entrap the Muslim for a number of reasons. Some of these are as follows:
"If the son of Adam had two valleys of money, he would wish for a third, for nothing can fill the belly of Adam's son except dust, and Allah forgives him who repents to him" [Bukhari]. the car has to the eyes of others (namely women) then it does on the functionality of the car itself. In fact all posters and images that can be seen in high street shops to entice consumers are actually enticing them by conveying the message that this item will enhance their identity. DOES CONSUMERISM LEAD TO HAPPINESS AND TRANQUILLITY? Perhaps the biggest irony of the debt trap is that the aims sought by those who risk everything for a life in pursuit of material gratification do not in fact reach their goals as the goals are not in themselves real and compatible with the natural character of man. In fact there is a strong and growing body of psychological evidence that indicates that people who watch a great deal of television, 10
Khilafah Magazine December 2003
Firstly, the goal in life of a Muslim is completely different to that held by those entrenched with the secular goal of materialism. Allah says in the Glorious Qur'an:
THE ISLAMIC VIEW Consumerism as manifested in Western society is the obsession to buy things even if it means living beyond one's means. It is also the buying of things impulsively without there being a clear need but in order to impress others who judge people on the basis of their possessions and appearance rather than their actions and ideas. From the Islamic viewpoint, if individuals have the financial means, then spending is encouraged however the motivations and intentions are quite different from the western motives. Also, from a societal perspective, consumer spending is vital for economic growth for the state as a whole. In fact Islam has encour-
"Say: 'My life, my death and acts of worship are all for the Rabbil Alameen.'" [TMQ AlAn'am: 162] With this elevated goal, the Muslim knows that he buys what he needs rather than to impress others, therefore spending a significant premium for a branded product would not have the same appeal in the Islamic society in the way it does in the West. Secondly, and equally significantly, the Muslim does not take the issue of borrowing money lightly. Debt is a heavy burden in Islam and people only take it a last resort with specific conditions. The mentality that the Muslims should have towards debt can be explained by accounts from the life of the