Hayatan Tayyibah

In the name of Allaah, Most Beneficent and Most Merciful

We are fortunate that Allah has given us Islam, which is complete code of life. He has guided us in every facet of life through the Quran and the Sunnah of Rasulullah SAWS. Many muslims unfortunately think, that Islam is Salaat, Fasting, Zakat and Haj and we can live however we want. That’s not so. These are pillars of Islam, like the pillars of the House. Like pillars support the building, these pillars are support to Islam in our life. Islam is not only in these pillars but it is our obedience to Allah in all aspects of our life.

Islam governs our earnings too. If we follow what Allah has permitted us and ordered us to do, then our earnings become ibadat of Allah. If we don’t then our earnings will make Allah displeased with us.

In this life the human being is always busy minded, worried, sad and concerned about how he is to find his sustenance (rizq). It is part of human nature to work hard to get his/her sustenance (rizq) for him and his household.

Allah the most high says “It is He Who has made the earth manageable for you, so traverse through its tracts and enjoy of the Sustenance which He furnishes: but to Him is the Resurrection” Al-Mulk [ 67:15 ]

But some people might use forbidden and prohibited ways to get their sustenance (rizq) without knowing that there is no blessing in any ill gotten earnings (rizq). Of course, those people are ignorant about the right Islamic means by which sustenance can be earned and the doors to blessings can be opened.

Here are, oh Muslims, some criteria by which you should check your means for earning your sustenance. Understand them and more important apply them in your life.

Firstly: Have total reliance on Allah the One and Only, the eternal, and the absolute.

Listen to the saying of the prophet (pbuh) “If you were to rely on Allah as He should be relied on, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning hungry and return in the evening full.” [At-Tirmidhi]

Allah says:

“And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is ((Allah)) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: indeed, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion” [At-Talaq 65:3] and

“There is no moving creature on earth but its sustenance depends on Allah. He knows the time and place of its definite abode and its temporary deposit: All is in a clear Record” [ Hud 11:6 ].

So use the lawful means and rely on Allah, do not be lazy or complacent. Where are you in this –do you knock on the door of the most generous with your hands open: a heart full of trust and reliance on him; and stay at His door with a mind full of certainty that sustenance is with Allah only and you will get whatever was written for you?

Secondly: Repentance and seeking Allah’s forgiveness.

Allah tells you [of the call of his messenger, Noah] “Saying ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord; for He is Oft- Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance; “‘And give you increase in wealth and sons; and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers (of flowing water)” [Nooh 71:10-12].

• Imam Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) “this verse is an evidence that seeking forgiveness is a reason to get sustenance (rizq) and rain “
• Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said explaining those verses: “if you repent to Allah, seek his forgiveness and obey him then your sustenance will be more.”
• A man came to AlHasan AlBasri (may Allah have mercy on him) complaining about sterility, he replied: ‘ask Allah for forgiveness’. Another man came complaining about destitution/poverty, he replied: ‘ask Allah for forgiveness’. Another man came asking him to pray that Allah gives him a son, he replied …‘ask Allah for forgiveness’. His companions then asked him: three different men asked you three different questions and you gave them the same answer!! He replied: I didn’t say anything by my own, Allah the most high says “Saying, ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord; for He is Oft-Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance; “‘And Give you increase in wealth and sons; and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers (of flowing water)” So repent to Allah, seek his forgiveness and admit you shortcomings to be blessed with his mercy and showered with his blessings.

Thirdly: Maintaining ties of kinship

Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever would like to see his provision expanded and his life extended, let him maintain his ties of kinship” so are you maintaining your ties of kinship?

Fourthly: Worshipping Allah the almighty and making time for this so that you can give it your total attention and full care.

Allah says in a qudsi hadith (i.e. in the words of the Prophet SAW) “O, Son of Adam! Free yourself from this world for worshiping me. I will fill your heart with independence and your hands with sustenance; otherwise I will fill your heart with poverty, your soul with difficulties” and

“I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me. No Sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me. For Allah is He Who gives (all) Sustenance, Lord of Power forever.”  [Adh-Dhariyat 51:56-58]

Fifthly: Spend in the sake of Allah almighty.

Allah says “and nothing do you spend in the least (in His cause) but He replaces it: for He is the Best of those who grant Sustenance” [Saba 34:39].

Prophet (pbuh) once said to Bilal “O Bilal spend, spend (in the way of Allah) and don’t fear anything, the Lord of the throne won’t let us down.”

And Allah says in a qudsi hadith “O son of Adam, spend (for my sake) and I will spend on you.”

How great is this guarantee! And how generous is the creator! Where are those who don’t spend in the sake of Allah at all?

Sixthly: Be kind to the weak, poor and needy people and help them as much as possible.

Prophet (pbuh) said:” You are provided for and granted victory …due to the weak amongst you” [AlBukhari]

DO’s:

After all these six lessons of: {1. having total reliance upon Allah, 2. seeking Allah’s forgiveness, 3. giving full attention to Allah’s rights to your worship/service, 4. maintaining your ties of kinship, 5. spending for the sake of Allah and 6. being kind to the less fortunate} – we should earn our sustenance (rizq) with our hard work and diligence.

DONT’s:

1. Don’t oppress/exploit anyone by cheating or deception.
2. Don’t promote anything prohibited by Islam. A Muslim is prohibited from working in anything that is unlawful in Islam (food, drink or cloths). In Islam, we are allowed to get wealth from lawful ways only as “The flesh nourished by Haraam is of the Hell-fire.
3. Avoid Riba in all its forms. Know that there is a declaration of war from Allah and his Rasool against those who don’t give up Riba.
4. Don’t look at those above you but rather look at those who are less fortunate. This will increase contentment.

This is a reminder for me and you. May Allah protect us from Haraam and give us from Halal and give Barakah in our sustenance. May Allah give us toufeeq to practice on whatever we have read to just now.