The minimalist lifestyle is currently becoming a global trend. This lifestyle, adopted in modern times, is reportedly derived from a Japanese philosophy. Japan itself holds concepts of living such as Danshari (the art of tidying, discarding and detaching from our belongings). Later, in 2010, Marie Kondo’s art of tidying, known as the Konmari Method, also exploded globally. (Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki, Gramedia, 2018, pp. 17-18)
Thus, it can be understood that the minimalist lifestyle currently being embraced by global society is heavily influenced by Japan. Simultaneously, this lifestyle serves as a form of resistance against the maximalist lifestyle, which has a significant impact on increasing global waste.
However, long before minimalism became a modern trend, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sa), was a person worthy of the title “true minimalist.” He had already taught and adopted minimalism as a way of life.
In Islam, several concepts of simple living were taught long ago, such as zuhd (detaching oneself from worldly attachments), qana‘at (feeling content and grateful for whatever sustenance Allah provides), iqtisad (a balanced lifestyle – neither stingy nor wasteful) and anti-tabzir (avoiding excess).
What is interesting to explore is how the Prophet (sa) so deeply enjoyed his life without obsessing over material objects. In fact, from the very beginning, he consciously chose to live life as a “traveller”, i.e. someone who does not hold onto material things. This is reflected in his prayer recorded in a hadith: Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah prayed: ‘O Allah, provide the family of Muhammad with a simple [sufficient] sustenance.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 48, Hadith 44)
This clearly illustrates how the Prophet (sa) asked Allah for simple sustenance. He did not desire abundant or luxurious wealth; he only wanted what was sufficient. This shows that for him, simplicity was enough.
After reading the book Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki, I learned many things. Merely through the act of letting go and reducing possessions, there are so many positive effects that not only impact the spaciousness of a home but also influence the personality of the one practising it. Understanding this allows us to better comprehend how simplicity became the choice of the Holy Prophet (sa).
A simple life brought him (sa) happiness. It also freed him from unproductive time that might otherwise be spent thinking about possessions. Objects do not just take up space in a house; they also occupy the owner’s attention and mind to manage or use them.
We find a narration of Hazrat Aisha (ra) that illustrates the lifestyle of the Prophet (sa) and his family: Narrated Aisha (ra), a complete month would pass by during which we would not make a fire (for cooking) and our food used to be only dates and water unless we were given a present of some meat. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 81, Hadith 47)
This is why the Prophet (sa) was so fond of giving charity. Beyond being an expression of love for his people, charity freed him from thinking about the items in his home. This demonstrates his complete lack of attachment to material and worldly things. He gave so easily that even when he possessed only one garment – the one he was wearing – if a child asked for it, he would give it without a second thought. That was how empty material value was in his eyes. In fact, he would give his clothes to any companion who asked for his garment:
I heard Sahl bin Sa‘d saying, “A woman brought a Burda (i.e. a square piece of cloth having edging). I asked, ‘Do you know what a Burda is?’ They replied in the affirmative and said, “It is a cloth sheet with woven margins.” Sahl went on, “She addressed the Prophet (sa) and said, ‘I have woven it with my hands for you to wear.’ The Prophet (sa) took it as he was in need of it and came to us wearing it as a waist sheet. One of us said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (sa)! Give it to me to wear.’ The Prophet (sa) agreed to give it to him. The Prophet (sa) sat with the people for a while and then returned (home), wrapped that waist sheet and sent it to him. The people said to that man, ‘You haven’t done well by asking him for it when you know that he never turns down anybody’s request.’ The man replied, ‘By Allah, I have not asked him for it except to use it as my shroud when I die.’” Sahl added, “Later it (i.e. that sheet) was his shroud.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 34, Hadith 46)
The Prophet’s (sa) time was used very effectively because there were few items in his house and few clothes in his possession, allowing the time spent thinking about material “things” to be cut down significantly. Consequently, he had more time for worship, preaching and educating his people.
Furthermore, he had no desire to be seen as an elite or wealthy individual, rather his simplicity served as a benchmark for gratitude. He lived simply purely by choice, because he wanted to live minimally and felt completely fulfilled by that lifestyle. The Prophet’s (sa) following statement sums up this perfectly: “Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller”. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 81, Hadith 5)
A lack of food did not make him anxious, for he had complete trust in Allah. If there was no food that day, there was the option to fast – which is also healthy. He focused on his mission of preaching because of his perfect conviction in the Oneness of Allah, giving him extraordinary courage in facing various trials and challenges as Allah’s messenger.
He was indifferent to the views, mockery or accusations of the Quraish idolaters because he had released his attachment to the world and relied solely on Allah. Even after experiencing physical cruelty in Ta’if, he did not stop preaching. He continued his mission, despite being deeply saddened by the treatment of the people of Ta’if:
It is narrated in a hadith that once Hazrat Aisha (ra) asked the Holy Prophet (sa), “Have you ever experienced a day more difficult than the day of Uhud?” He replied, “Aisha, I have faced very severe moments at the hands of your people.” He then related the circumstances of the journey to Ta’if and said that upon returning from there, the angel of the mountains came to him and said, “Allah has sent me to you so that, if you command, I may cause these two mountains on either side to fall upon these people and destroy them.” (That is, I shall cause the mountains to the right and left side of them to fall upon them and destroy them.) The Holy Prophet (sa) said, “No, no. I hope that Allah the Almighty will bring forth from among these very people those who will worship the One God.” (Life and Character of the Seal of Prophets, Vol. 1, pp. 252-255)
A simple life and a minimalist lifestyle open up many new perspectives on happiness, freedom and gratitude. Living simply is a path not only to self-discovery but also to self-improvement – becoming a better person day by day. It provides tranquillity for both the soul and the mind. It is no wonder that the Prophet (sa) could remain so happy, even though his life was exceptionally simple.