From Frenzy to Intention: Why Our Spending Choices Matter
Black Friday has shifted from cold, chaotic in-store lines to endless online carts, but the culture of mindless consumption remains — enriching corporations while draining communities. The writer reflects on personal experiences that reveal how dehumanizing this frenzy can be, especially when the day after gratitude turns into a race to buy more.
Small Business Saturday offers a more intentional path: supporting people instead of corporations. This aligns with Islamic economic principles, which view wealth as a trust and condemn waste, hoarding, and exploitation. Islam encourages moderation and fairness — values at odds with modern consumerism.
Historically, even leaders like Hazrat Umar (ra) intervened to protect markets from practices that could destroy livelihoods. Today, Amazon and big-box giants operate with advantages small businesses can’t match, pushing them toward collapse.
As a small business owner, the writer sees these inequities firsthand — rising costs, impossible competition, and a system designed for scale over humanity. The call is simple: skip the frenzy, choose intention, and support small businesses. How we spend shapes our communities, and Small Business Saturday is a reminder to use our wealth in ways that uplift rather than exploit.
