Spend within means for Syawal

Hari Raya is expected to fall on July 28 this year and many city dwellers make sure that they do not miss the opportunity to go back to their hometowns.

For some of them, this is the only opportunity in the year to meet up with the rest of their family members. Thus, many see it as a celebration unlike any other and tend to go overboard with it.

It is wise to have a dedicated budget for the usual Hari Raya preparations to ensure uninterrupted cash flow once the celebrations are over.

Civil servants receive their salary as early as July 22, but the next payday may well be near the end of August.

Civil servant Nuha Azhari has made it a habit to save for Hari Raya from up to three months prior to the celebrations.

"It was a habit of mine since I was single. I would save a lot of shillings to be taken to the bank and changed to notes.

"I dare not rely completely on a month's salary for Hari Raya preparations, as I might end up with empty pockets after the celebration is over", said Nuha who hailed from Taiping, Perak.

Nuha has been buying her children's clothes for Hari Raya since the first week of Ramadan.

"Even then the shopping complexes were already packed. It looks like everyone else had the same idea too", she surmised.

She placed a maximum budget of RM200 per child to buy casual clothes for her four children.

"I do not find the need to buy new baju kurung or baju Melayu for my children, as we will be wearing what we wore during my sister's wedding, earlier in June.

"My husband and I will also not be buying new clothes", said Nuha.

There are two reasons Hari Raya is celebrated: one is to worship Allah and the other is a sign of gratitude, said Imam Muhammad Asyraf Mohd Rizzuan.

Asyraf, winner of the first season of the reality show "Imam Muda" on Astro Oasis in 2010, was met after a talk at Wisma Bernama in conjunction with Ramadan, recently.

"We need to see whether we are giving priority to the right things when celebrating Hari Raya. Is being excessive or overboard a sign of worship and gratitude?

"We have to remember that Hari Raya is not a cultural celebration. Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha are celebrations of worship", he explained.

He said Islam did not prevent traditions like balik kampung, making amends or holding open houses.

"Islam does not object to good traditions and cultural practices, but what it prohibits is excessiveness and inappropriate mingling during the celebrations. Negative emotions like sadness is also not encouraged on Hari Raya.

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself used to wear the best clothes for Eid, but not new clothes.

"But for some of us, the best clothes mean new clothes. It is not wrong to buy new clothes, but it will be wrong if we are wasteful about it", Asyraf explained.

He said one needed to spend within his/her means, including in the preparation of dishes for Hari Raya or open houses.

"Take care to not be excessive, as is also the case when hosting wedding feasts. Do not segregate guests according to their status and feed them different foods.

"We can honour a person but take care to not make the special treatment so apparent", he said.

On the tendency to take up loans to spend on Hari Raya celebrations, Asyraf said the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had sternly advised against making a habit of borrowing money, as a debt is a cause for dishonour.

However, he said, Islam allowed it in dire cases such as to buy necessities like shelter and in recent times, transportation means.

He also adviced those intending to balik kampung to plan their journey accordingly and be mindful of their manners when using the R&Rs.

"We overlook a lot of 'sunnah' (traditions) of the Prophet, such as carefully planning for a journey", he said.

He said the Prophet also prohibited companions from traveling if the camels they were to ride on were not properly prepared.

"Similarly, we need to service our vehicles and be safe on the roads, prepare snacks and whatever is necessary for our children and bring gifts for our families back home.