Lakhs for Duniya, Pennies for Deen – 5 Eye Opening truths about our Priorities:
Lakhs for Duniya and Pennies for Deen: In today’s world, Most of us spend 15–18 years of our lives pursuing academic education. Parents invest 25–50 lakhs or more on schools, colleges, tuition, and higher studies just to see their children become graduates or postgraduates. This is considered normal and even essential.
Yet when it comes to Islamic education, we rarely dedicate even two months of serious study or spend ₹2,000 on structured learning. Despite this, we proudly call ourselves Deendar Muslims. This imbalance between worldly education and Deen knowledge has far-reaching consequences for our lives, families, and communities.
This article explores why Islamic knowledge is critical, how neglecting it harms us, when we spend Lakhs for the world but pennies for the Deen and what steps we must take to balance dunya with Akhirah.
Worldly Education: Time, Money, and Prestige
We Spend Lakhs for Duniya, But Pennies for Deen: Every child’s journey begins with school admissions, uniforms, tuition, exams, and eventually college. Parents sacrifice vacations, savings, and sometimes even property to fund education.
- Time investment: 15–18 years.
- Financial investment: ₹25–50 lakhs (sometimes more).
- Motivation: To secure a good job, stable income, and social respect.
This focus on dunya is not inherently wrong. Islam encourages us to acquire beneficial knowledge, contribute to society, and seek halal livelihoods. However, the problem arises when worldly education completely overshadows religious education.
Islamic Education: The Neglected Priority
When it comes to Deen, our approach is shockingly different.
- Qur’an recitation is often limited to childhood, and even then without tajweed or understanding.
- Few adults revisit Qur’an tafseer, Hadith, or Fiqh.
- Parents push for IIT, IIM, or medical coaching, but rarely insist on memorizing Qur’an or studying Islamic manners.
- Spending on Islamic books, online courses, or structured learning feels like a “burden.”
Despite this, many Muslims proudly say: “I am a Deendar Muslim.” by Investing lakhs for Duniya while neglecting Deen
The False Badge of Deendari
But what does being Deendar mean? Is it wearing Islamic attire, attending Friday prayers, or using Islamic greetings? Or is it truly understanding and living Islam through Qur’an and Sunnah?
Let us ask ourselves:
- Do we know the conditions of Salah and Wudhu properly?
- Can we calculate Zakat obligations on wealth, property, and gold?
- Do we understand the rights of husband and wife in marriage?
- Can we explain the rules of inheritance that Allah clearly outlined in Qur’an (Surah An-Nisa 4:11–12)?
- Have we memorized at least 40 authentic Hadith to guide our daily life?
If the answer to most of these is “no,” then calling ourselves Deendar Muslims is not reality — it is self-deception.
Qur’an and Sunnah on Seeking Knowledge
The Qur’an repeatedly emphasizes the importance of knowledge:
- “Say, Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:9)
- “Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.” (Surah Al-Mujadilah 58:11)
Rasulullah ﷺ said:
- “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.” (Ibn Majah, Hadith 224)
- “The best among you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.” (Sahih Bukhari 5027)
Knowledge here is not limited to worldly sciences, but primarily religious knowledge that connects us to Allah and guides our life.
The Consequences of Neglecting Islamic Education
The imbalance of dunya vs. Deen has produced visible consequences in our society:
1. Family Breakdown
Marital disputes and divorces are rising because couples are ignorant of Islamic marital rights and responsibilities. Many do not know the rulings of Nikah, Mahr, or Khula.
2. Youth Misguidance
Teenagers fall into addictions, dating culture, and peer pressure because they lack grounding in Qur’an, Islamic values, and the company of scholars.
3. Confusion in Faith
Many Muslims are quick to argue politics, economics, or science, but cannot explain the basics of Tawheed, Qadr, or the conditions of Shahadah.
4. Deathbed Regrets
When death comes, degrees and jobs mean nothing. The Qur’an and Hadith we ignored in life become the very criteria for success in the grave and Akhirah.
Worldly ROI vs. Deeni ROI
- Worldly ROI (Return on Investment):
- A job for 40 years.
- A retirement fund.
- Social prestige.
- Ends with death.
Deeni ROI:
- Guidance in this world.
- Barakah in wealth, health, and family.
- Protection in the grave.
- Elevation on the Day of Judgment.
- Eternal Paradise.
Rasulullah ﷺ said:
“When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for him.” (Sahih Muslim 1631)
Notice that beneficial knowledge is one of the only deeds that outlives you.
Islam Encourages Balance
It is important to clarify: Islam does not oppose worldly education. In fact, the golden era of Islam produced doctors, mathematicians, and scientists who were also deeply religious. Scholars like Al-Khwarizmi (father of algebra) and Ibn Sina (pioneer of medicine) were rooted in Qur’an and Sunnah.
The problem today is that we chase dunya while abandoning Deen. True balance means:
- Excelling in worldly sciences.
- Grounding ourselves in Qur’an, Hadith, Fiqh, and Akhlaaq.
- Balancing Duniya and Deen in our spending
A Wake-Up Call for Muslim Families
- If we can spend lakhs of rupees on school fees, why not a few thousand on Islamic courses?
- If we can send children abroad for university, why not send them to scholars for structured Islamic learning?
- If we can sacrifice 18 years for a degree, why not at least 18 months for serious Islamic literacy?
The Qur’an warns us:
“But you prefer the worldly life, while the Hereafter is better and more lasting.” (Surah Al-A’la 87:16–17)
Practical Steps to Reclaim Deendari
- Personal Commitment: Dedicate 30 minutes daily for Qur’an tafseer, Hadith, or Fiqh.
- Family Culture: Replace idle TV time with Islamic study circles at home.
- Financial Priority: Set aside a monthly budget for Islamic learning (books, courses, online programs).
- Children’s Tarbiyah: Alongside school, ensure Qur’an memorization, tajweed, and Seerah knowledge.
- Community Support: Fund and support scholars, institutes, and Deen-focused programs.
Conclusion
We spend 18 years and 50 lakhs to earn a degree that ends with death. Yet we hesitate to spend 2 months and ₹2,000 to learn Qur’an and Sunnah — knowledge that saves us in dunya, in the grave, and on the Day of Judgment.
This is not true Deendari. True Deendari is not in names, attire, or rituals — it is in sacrificing time, money, and effort for Allah’s knowledge.
If we truly want to be Deendar Muslims, we must balance dunya and Deen, making Islamic education a lifelong priority. Only then will our marriages, families, and communities find real success in this world and the Hereafter.
