The AmanaFi blog
Practical guides to manage money better, in line with your values. (100 articles)
Budget
Build and keep a monthly budget that survives real life.
Cutting spending without deprivation: seven levers that work
Negotiate, compare, plan purchases: seven concrete levers to spend less without sacrificing what matters.
Read →The 15-minute monthly budget review: a checklist
A fifteen-minute checklist to close the month, compare plan and reality and prepare the next without stress.
Read →Budgeting with irregular income: craftspeople, traders and freelancers
When income varies from month to month, build the budget on the minimum and smooth it with a reserve. Step by step.
Read →First salary: how to split it from the very first month
First salary, first decisions: a simple split between costs, savings, sadaqah and enjoyment to start on solid ground.
Read →Student budget: living on a small income without debt
Grant, family help, a small job: how to split a limited income to last the whole month without borrowing.
Read →Couple budgeting: handling two incomes without conflict
Joint account, proportional shares or fully separate: three ways to manage money as a couple, and how to choose calmly.
Read →Zero-based budget: giving every dirham a job
A zero-based budget assigns every dirham of income to an expense, saving or gift until the unassigned balance is zero.
Read →Tracking spending without effort: 5 habits that last
Logging expenses should not become a chore. Five simple habits to keep tracking up to date in two minutes a day.
Read →Invisible spending: how to spot the small purchases draining your budget
Coffees, snacks, forgotten subscriptions: small repeated spending weighs a lot. Here is how to spot it without depriving yourself of everything.
Read →The envelope method: a budget per category that limits overspending
The envelope idea: a fixed sum per category, used up through the month. Ideal for groceries, coffee or fuel.
Read →Fixed and variable costs: the difference and how to sort them
Fixed costs are due every month at the same amount, variable ones fluctuate. Knowing the difference makes the budget easier to steer.
Read →Budgeting by pay period: why to align your month with payday
The calendar month does not follow your pay. A budget running from payday to the day before the next one avoids false gaps and makes tracking reliable.
Read →Money left to live on: definition and simple calculation
The money left to live on is what you can spend freely after your fixed costs. Here is how to calculate and track it daily.
Read →The 50/30/20 rule: how to adapt it to a budget in Morocco
The 50/30/20 rule splits income into needs, wants and savings. Here is how to adjust it when rent and family weigh heavily.
Read →How to make a simple monthly budget in 4 steps
A clear method for a monthly budget: income, fixed costs, variable spending and savings, without a complicated spreadsheet.
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Savings
Emergency funds, project savings and habits that last.
Preparing for retirement without a regular salary
Craftspeople, traders, freelancers: how to build your own retirement on irregular income, without complicated products.
Read →Save or repay a debt: how to decide
Should you save first or repay? A simple three-step rule to decide without anxiety.
Read →Interest-free savings accounts: what participatory banks offer
Current accounts, investment accounts and products of participatory banks in Morocco: pointers to understand the difference from interest.
Read →Saving small amounts: why regularity beats the sum
On a small income, 50 or 100 dirhams a month is enough to build the saving habit. Here is how to keep going.
Read →Inflation and savings: why idle money loses value
Inflation reduces the purchasing power of motionless savings. Understanding the mechanism and sensible reflexes to protect yourself.
Read →Children's savings: teaching them to set money aside
Piggy bank, a concrete goal and parents' example: how to teach children to save from an early age.
Read →Where to keep your savings: liquidity, safety and values
Account, cash, gold, investments: how to choose where to keep savings by horizon, respecting liquidity and safety.
Read →Project saving: set a goal, a date and a monthly amount
Trip, wedding, car, back to school: to reach a set goal, divide the amount by the number of months and schedule the monthly sum.
Read →Automatic saving: paying yourself first on payday
Scheduling a savings transfer on payday turns good intentions into a habit. How to set it up.
Read →Emergency fund: how much to save and where to start
An emergency fund usually covers 3 to 6 months of essential spending. Here is how to size it and build it in small steps.
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Zakat
Understand, calculate and pay your zakat with confidence.
Setting aside zakat every month: a method with no cash shock
Estimate your yearly zakat, divide by twelve and set it aside monthly: a simple method to pay easily on the due date.
Read →Zakat on shares and investments: pointers by use
Shares, funds, company stakes: zakat depends on intention (resale or income) and the nature of the asset. Pointers to find your way.
Read →Zakat and debts: can you deduct what you owe?
Debts due in the short term can, according to some views, be deducted from the zakat base. Pointers to tell cases apart.
Read →Who can receive zakat: the eight categories
The Quran lists eight categories of zakat recipients. Pointers to understand who it can go to and who it cannot.
Read →Zakat al-fitr: who pays it, when and in what form
Zakat al-fitr is due per person at the end of Ramadan. Pointers on who pays, the timing and the nature of the gift.
Read →Zakat on salary: pay monthly or yearly?
The salary itself is not zakatable each month: it is the savings left from it, on the yearly due date. Explanation and method.
Read →Business zakat: how to calculate it on stock and cash
A trader calculates zakat on the value of stock, cash and reliable receivables, minus debts due. A simple method.
Read →Zakat on gold and jewellery: what is due and what is debated
Bars, savings gold and worn jewellery: zakat is not treated the same way. Pointers on the schools' opinions.
Read →The hawl: the lunar year of zakat explained simply
The hawl is the lunar year of ownership that makes zakat due. How to set your date and why it moves forward each year.
Read →Calculating zakat on savings: a step-by-step example
Add cash, gold and receivables, subtract debts due, compare with the nisab then apply 2.5%: a worked example.
Read →Zakat nisab: gold or silver, how to choose
The nisab is the wealth threshold from which zakat is due. Pointers on the two references, 85 g of gold and 595 g of silver.
Read →Zakat: definition, conditions and the 2.5% rate
Zakat is a yearly obligation on savings that reach the nisab and are held for a lunar year. Definition, conditions and the 2.5% rate.
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Sadaqah and waqf
Give with a method: sadaqah, waqf and lasting generosity.
Checking a charity before giving: seven questions to ask
Before giving a donation or zakat to a charity, seven simple checks to make sure it is serious and transparent.
Read →Sadaqah to family and relatives: a double reward
Helping a relative in need combines charity and kinship. How to do it well without causing embarrassment.
Read →Giving discreetly: why and how to preserve dignity
Tradition recommends giving discreetly. How to do it with dignity for the recipient and without showing off.
Read →Giving on limited means: generosity without putting yourself at risk
You can be generous on a small income: time, services, small regular gifts. How to give without weakening your household.
Read →Planning a monthly sadaqah in your budget: how much and how
Make generosity a line in the budget: set a percentage, schedule the gift and stay regular without getting into difficulty.
Read →Waqf: understanding the charitable endowment and its current forms
A waqf sets an asset aside so its income serves a cause lastingly. Principle, examples and how to contribute today.
Read →Sadaqah jariyah: continuous charity, ideas and examples
Sadaqah jariyah is a gift whose usefulness continues over time: a well, a school, a tree, knowledge. Ideas and how to plan it.
Read →Sadaqah: definition, broad meaning and difference from zakat
Sadaqah is a voluntary gift whose meaning extends to any good deed. Definition, examples and the difference from zakat.
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Islamic finance
Riba, lawful contracts and interest-free alternatives.
A lawful sale contract: the essential conditions in Islamic finance
A valid sale requires a lawful, owned, known good, a defined price and free consent. A checklist before committing.
Read →Bank cards and revolving credit: where riba lies
A debit or interest-free deferred card is just a payment convenience; revolving credit with interest falls under riba. Pointers.
Read →Gharar: the excessive uncertainty that makes a contract questionable
Gharar means excessive uncertainty about the object, price or delivery. Definition, examples and how to protect yourself.
Read →Late-payment penalties and riba: how to treat them
A late penalty that benefits the creditor looks like interest. How Islamic contracts organise it and what you can do.
Read →Takaful: understanding Islamic insurance and its differences
Takaful rests on solidarity between participants rather than transferring risk to a company. Principles, differences and questions to ask.
Read →Participatory banks in Morocco: pointers to understand how they work
Framework, contracts and validation of participatory banks' products in Morocco: pointers to compare without error.
Read →Salam and istisna: paying in advance for goods to be delivered or made
Salam finances a defined good delivered later; istisna finances a good made to order. Principles, conditions and uses.
Read →Musharaka and mudaraba: partnerships that share profits and losses
In musharaka, partners bring capital and work; in mudaraba, one brings capital, the other work. Principles and rules.
Read →Ijara: financing an asset through leasing, with or without final purchase
Ijara is a lease contract: the owner keeps the asset and rents it out. Ijara with ownership transfer is used to finance a home or vehicle.
Read →Murabaha explained: buying on credit without interest
In a murabaha, the bank buys the asset then resells it to you with a known margin, payable in instalments. How it works and what to watch.
Read →Riba al-fadl and riba an-nasi'a: the difference explained with examples
Two forms of riba: the excess in an immediate exchange (fadl) and the surplus for a delay (nasi'a). Concrete examples to tell them apart.
Read →What is riba? A simple definition and the reasons for the prohibition
Riba is a gain obtained on a loan of money or an unequal exchange of goods, forbidden in Islam. A simple definition, main forms and reasons.
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Debts and loans
Repay, lend interest-free and keep good relations.
Why settle your debts and document them for your family
Tradition stresses settling debts. How to list them, inform your family and organise tracking so nothing is left hanging.
Read →Advance and deposit: giving or receiving money up front without dispute
An advance or deposit commits both parties. How to write it down, when it is refundable and how to avoid disputes.
Read →Avoiding consumer debt: five reflexes to not borrow for a want
Financing a comfort purchase on credit is costly and weighs on the future. Five reflexes to wait, save and buy without debt.
Read →Selling on credit: pointers for seller and buyer
A sale with deferred payment is accepted if the price is fixed at the sale and does not change with lateness. Pointers and precautions.
Read →Lending money to a relative without damaging the relationship
Before lending to a relative or friend: decide the amount, write down the conditions, accept the idea of not being repaid right away.
Read →Negotiating a repayment delay: how to bring it up and what to propose
When you cannot pay on the due date, warning early and proposing a new schedule preserves the relationship. Method and a model message.
Read →Repaying debts with the avalanche method: start with the costliest
The avalanche method repays the costliest debt first (interest, penalties). Comparison with the snowball and how to choose.
Read →Repaying debts with the snowball method
The snowball method repays the smallest debt first, then rolls the freed sum onto the next. How to use it and its limits.
Read →Writing down a debt and taking witnesses: what verse 282 recommends
The longest verse of the Quran recommends writing down debts due later. Why, how, and a simple model acknowledgement of debt.
Read →Qard hassan: the interest-free loan, principle and good practice
Qard hassan is a loan in which exactly the sum lent is returned, with no interest or advantage. Principle, merit and how to practise it.
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Halal investing
Invest carefully and in line with your values.
Risk and investment horizon: when will you need the money?
The shorter the horizon, the less risk you can take. How to tie each sum to a deadline before choosing where to place it.
Read →Diversifying simply: not putting all your money in one basket
Spreading savings across cash, real assets and projects reduces the impact of a bad surprise. A simple method in three blocks.
Read →Investing small amounts every month: why regularity and patience matter
Investing a small amount on a fixed date smooths out swings and builds the habit. Principle, fees to watch and prerequisites.
Read →Cryptocurrencies: differing religious views and great financial caution
Scholars differ on cryptocurrencies and their volatility is extreme. How to approach the topic with caution if you are interested.
Read →Choosing a halal investment fund: five questions to ask
Fees, compliance, composition, risk, track record: five questions to choose a compliant fund without error.
Read →Sukuk explained: how they differ from a conventional bond
A sukuk represents a share in an asset or project, not an interest-bearing claim. Principle, types and caution.
Read →Halal rental property: key points before buying to let
Renting out a property is a lawful activity. Interest-free financing, risks, costs and tax: points to check before buying to let.
Read →Gold as a store of value: advantages, limits and buying rules
Gold keeps purchasing power over the long term but earns no income and fluctuates. Compliant buying rules and precautions.
Read →Halal shares: the screening criteria explained simply
Business sector and financial ratios: how compliance screens select shares and why thresholds vary.
Read →Halal investing: the basic principles
Avoid interest, prohibited sectors and excessive uncertainty, share risk: the basic principles of a compliant investment.
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Family
Teach children about money and run the household budget.
School costs: plan across the year rather than suffer at the start of term
Registration, supplies, transport, activities: how to spread school costs over twelve months so they no longer weigh all at once.
Read →Inheritance and planning: pointers to prepare the handover
Shares fixed by succession law, a bequest limited to a third, documents to gather: pointers to prepare the handover with your family.
Read →Cutting water and electricity bills: ten gestures that count
Lighting, water heater, standby appliances, leaks: ten simple gestures to lighten the home's bills without losing comfort.
Read →Talking about money as a couple: how to open the conversation calmly
Money disagreements often come from the unspoken. Choose the moment, start from facts, set shared goals: a how-to.
Read →Supporting your parents financially: building it into your budget without strain
Supporting parents is a duty and a source of reward. How to set a regular amount, discuss it as a family and protect your own balance.
Read →Family budget: organising a household's costs with children
A household has more costs and more surprises. How to organise the family budget, involve everyone and plan children's spending.
Read →Financial education for teenagers: talking about money without taboo
Budget, saving, advertising and first jobs: how to approach money with a teenager by giving responsibility gradually.
Read →Pocket money: a simple method to teach children to manage
Amount, regularity and clear rules: how pocket money becomes a financial education tool from primary school.
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Occasions
Ramadan, Eid, back to school, wedding, Hajj: prepare without debt.
Family celebrations and invitations: hospitality without ruin
Welcoming guests is a strong value, but festive meals weigh on the budget. How to host generously while keeping a margin.
Read →Buying a car without an interest-bearing loan: a four-step method
Cost the real price, save, compare new and used, check: a method to buy a vehicle without an interest-bearing loan.
Read →Home works: financing without an interest-bearing loan
Renovation, extension, repair: how to cost, prioritise, phase the works and save rather than borrow with interest.
Read →Summer holiday budget: going away without overspending
Transport, accommodation, meals, activities: how to set a holiday budget, save in advance and avoid credit to travel.
Read →Birth: budgeting for the baby's arrival and the aqiqah
Equipment, health, leave, aqiqah: how to cost a baby's arrival and prepare over months without financial stress.
Read →Hajj and umrah: saving for the journey with a realistic plan
Hajj is an obligation once in a lifetime for those who can afford it. How to cost, save and prepare without debt.
Read →A debt-free wedding budget: simplicity as a blessing
Dowry, celebration, outfit, housing: how to cost a wedding, set priorities and avoid starting married life with heavy debt.
Read →Eid al-Fitr budget: clothes, sweets, gifts and zakat
Celebrating Eid with family without overspending: list clothes, sweets, children's gifts and charity, and set an envelope.
Read →Eid al-Adha budget: preparing the sacrifice without getting into difficulty
The sacrifice is a confirmed sunnah for those who can afford it. How to provision for it in advance without debt and share the meat.
Read →Ramadan budget: preparing the month without going into debt
Groceries, iftar meals, sadaqah and zakat al-fitr: how to prepare the Ramadan budget in advance and avoid last-minute spending.
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Habits
Money psychology, discipline and calm decisions.
Tawakkul and financial planning: trusting God and taking precautions
"Tie your camel, then trust in God": how to reconcile tawakkul, foresight, saving and budgeting.
Read →Contentment (qana'ah): being at peace with what you have
True wealth is the wealth of the soul, says tradition. How to cultivate contentment without giving up financial progress.
Read →Israf and moderation: avoiding waste, a principle for the budget
The Quran invites us to eat and drink without excess. How to apply the principle of moderation to food, purchases and the budget.
Read →The 24-hour rule: a simple reflex before any unplanned purchase
Waiting 24 hours, or 30 days for a big purchase, sharply reduces regret. How to apply it in daily life.
Read →Impulse buying: understanding why you slip and how to limit it
Advertising, tiredness, emotions: impulse purchases have identifiable triggers. How to spot them and put simple safeguards in place.
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