بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

The prophet (ﷺ) said: “Trust in God, but tie your camel.” [Tirmidhi]

There is a meaning behind this hadith which is that we cannot expect things to happen or not to happen without our own efforts first. If you put trust in Allah but sit back and do nothing, nothing will happen; similarly if you were to trust in Allah but not tie a camel, it will still run away.

We must act first, then put trust in Allah. This is especially important in the area of the religion. Many of us say we want to fix certain faults with our deen, yet we do not work for it. Let us remember:

“..Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves..” 13:11

Allah has shown us what will make us better worshippers. He has sent His perfected book and the perfect role model Muhammad (ﷺ) who has not left out even the slightest detail in the religion. Whatever we are struggling with in the deen, there are ways to work on it, yet many of us do not try enough, then we ask ourselves why we sin.

We tell Allah everyday in our Salah when reading Surat Al Fatiha:

“It is You we worship and You we ask for help.” [1:5]

The word used for asking for help is “nasta’een” which come from the word “‘oun” which is a very specific type of help; in basic terms it means when one is already trying then asks for help – we shall go through the entire Surah in detail in a future post if Allah wills.

These two things – our effort and Allah’s help – are extremely important in Islam and our daily lives in general.

Allah knows best.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

In this post we will discuss what Allah says about impermissible forms of income.

Haram income does not only affect the sinner themselves but also the people around them. One can obtain money through haram means and feed one’s family with this income in turn affecting them too.

It is not merely limited to income through drugs/alcohol or gambling etc. but any income that is obtained because of an activity one engaged in that displeases Allah is considered haram. This could be lying, cheating, deceiving people – any haram action leading to any sort of income.

The severity of haram income is not to be taken lightly. Let’s take a major sin such as consuming alcohol. If one were to sell it, then they are committing double the treason; one for the act of selling it to a consumer and another is the money gained from it, which is worse than consumption – this works the same for drugs.

Similarly, acts committed in industries such as prostitution or pornography are major sins. For the people earning from it, they are gaining double the major sins, and for the people that own the companies they are gaining more than double; encouraging immorality and earning from the business.

These however are not as common within the Muslim community as acts such as lying to obtain a job or getting paid for work which one did not carry out. Faking certificates, lying in CV’s, seeking intercession for a job one knows that one is incapable of undertaking. These all fall into the category of haram acts which can then lead to haram income.

Even things like discounts or benefits which one lied to obtain. Gaining some sort of income – money or other – by bending the truth on a document or application to qualify for these benefits or others. There are many other forms of haram income that branch from what we discussed. They have become such a norm in the world even within our Ummah.

The prophet said: “A time will come upon the people when one will not care how one gains one’s money, legally or illegally.” [Bukhari]

We are living in these times now. We have become so greedy as to not even care or ask ourselves where we are gaining our income. These have effects on society both on the people obtaining the money and the people around them. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.” 2:172

“O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteously. Indeed, I, of what you do, am Knowing.” 23:51

 

Allah is directly talking to the messengers for the people to understand that nothing will be accepted of us through consuming haram.

The effects of haram income is not only limited to the dunya but also our afterlife. We will discuss the punishments related to these acts in a future post if Allah wills.

Let us conclude with a hadith from the prophet on this matter; he said: “O people, Allah is Good and He therefore, accepts only that which is good. And Allah commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers by saying: “O Messengers, eat of the good things, and do good deeds; verily I am aware of what you do” [23:51]. And He said: “O those who believe, eat of the good things that We gave you” [2:172]. He then made a mention of a person who travels widely, his hair dishevelled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky (and thus makes the supplication): “O Lord, O Lord,” whereas his diet is haram, his drink is haram, and his clothes are haram and his nourishment is haram. How can then his supplication be accepted?” [Muslim]

Allah knows best.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

Mankind today tend to worry all the time about the things in our possession. Allah reminds us in the Qur’an that these are not ours, but He has purchased it from us in return for paradise.

“Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise.” 9:111

This demonstrates Allah’s favour upon us; He provided us with these blessings and accepted it as a price from His faithful servant. What this means is that we spend our lives and our wealth in His path. We restrict what our lives in the dunya could be to please Him and spend our earnings for good in the name of Allah.

We misinterpret the idea of rizq in the way that many of us assume that it is merely within our own efforts. Sure, we as Muslims believe that everything comes from Allah, but do our attitudes to life prove the opposite? This has lead us to prioritise our work and other commitments above the commitments to Allah’s work.

Understanding how rizq truly works will lead one to realise that while seeking out rizq is important, it should not be of such importance that it involves spending the greatest time, energy and focus on to the exclusion of other obligations and duties. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.'” 9:24

Allah mentions the obligations we have in this world but also lets us know the consequences of putting them before Him and his messenger (ﷺ).

The most fundamental aspect is that we as Muslims internalise that rizq all comes from Allah. It is from one of His beautiful names “Al-Razaaq” – The Provider, The Supplier. Every penny we make, every breath we take, the time we have on earth, every relationship we have is given by Allah.

“Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.” 51:58

Allah ascribes the power of provision to Him alone and also encourages us partake in what He has provided for us, but reminds us to keep our duty to Him:

“And eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And fear Allah, in whom you are believers.” 5:88

He connect the two subjects to warn us not allow the partaking in provision to transgress His other commands. Allah also connects taqwa (consciousness of Allah) with rizq:

And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.” 65:3

This means that although we may think that we know where our salaries are coming from every month, there are times when we were provided at a time of need from a source we could not have imagined. Whether this was money or other provisions; it could be something as simple as food when we were hungry.

However, it is not only the people with taqwa are given their rizq. We see disbelievers and Muslims that are astray from us, many of which are seemingly very successful in their lives. We must understand that Allah provides for all His creation. From the humans to the animals to the plants and everything in between; everything has its share in the world.

“And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register.” 11:6

The difference between the rizq to people with true taqwa and the people without is the baraka of Allah (the attachment of divine goodness) – which is a separate topic we shall discuss in the future if Allah wills. One thing to mention from this is the warning of Allah in the Qur’an:

“So when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [good] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were [then] in despair.” 6:44

If all people start chasing is worldly provision, money, fame etc. then those doors will be opened by Allah. Every blessing of the world would be made abundant for these people such as wealth, children and all kinds of provision. Once everything is given to them and they are delighted/boastful of what they have earned, Allah will take them from the dunya.

What will our provisions do for us when the angel of death comes?

No matter how much we may feel that our provisions are from our own efforts, they are not. This is not to say however, that we should abandon our worldly duties and everything will fall into our laps as we do nothing. Rather we must plan our lives in the best way possible in seeking our rizq with fulfilling our other commitments to Allah and His messenger (ﷺ), and have firm belief in Al-Razzaq to provide for us.

A Muslim must always rely upon Allah – this pillar of belief gives the believer the strength to overcome difficulties. Someone with the correct understanding that his provision is from Allah will trust fully in Allah to provide for him especially when times are difficult.

“Allah extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. And they rejoice in the worldly life, while the worldly life is not, compared to the Hereafter, except [brief] enjoyment.” 13:26

A common question that is usually asked is:

If rizq is from Allah then how does one interpret the provisions taken by let’s say, a thief? Someone steals something from someone else or someone obtains their wealth through haram means e.g. won the lottery?

We must first understand that no provision has been taken away from anyone except that Allah willed so. That person who stole, is only stealing from their own rizq – they would have been given equal to that item they stole in another way, in a halal manner; they are not playing with Allah’s system in any way.

Not only is there no baraka in what they stole but that person they stole from will be claiming back on the day of judgement in the form of good deeds. So if something is stolen from us out of greed, we should think of it as savings for our afterlife or simply as a way of forgiveness from Allah if we look past it.

The same applies to those who earn through prohibited methods. Had they not gone through the haram path, Allah would have given the same provision in a better way – remember, He provides us from places we do not expect.

Let us remember, our rizq is a test. Sometimes we may see our wealth dropping but that itself is a blessing from Allah. It could be an opportunity for us to come closer to Him through our actions – if we only see it that way.

Furthermore, nobody can take your decreed rizq from you. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised.” 51:22

Our provisions are with Allah not with the people around us and He will give whatever he wills without question.

“…Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account.” 3:37

Allah knows best.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

The sunnah of the prophet (ﷺ) is indivisible from the Qur’an. Narrations on what he (ﷺ) advised us and how he (ﷺ) lived his life is the living interpretation of the Qur’an.

The Qur’an contains the commands of Allah which cannot be understood and interpreted correctly without looking at the prophet’s (ﷺ) life. Let us take prayer as an example; Allah in the Qur’an commands the Muslims to pray:

“The believers, men and women, are protecting friends of one another; they enjoin good and forbid evil, and they establish Salah, and give Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them, and surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” 9:71

However, we cannot know how to pray and carry out these actions accurately if was not for the sunnah. The prophet (ﷺ) is Allah’s perfect role model, a mercy to the world.

“You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah, for all who put their hope in Allah and the Last Day and remember Allah much.” 33:21

“There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.” 9:128

“Allah showed great kindness to the believers when He sent a Messenger to them from among themselves to recite His Signs to them, purify them and teach them the Book and Wisdom, even though before that they were clearly misguided.” 3:164

The Prophet’s (ﷺ) entire life reveals a seriousness, responsibility, and sensitivity of which not even the slightest detail is neglected.

Dangers of abandoning the Sunnah

“The loss of the religion starts with the abandonment of the Sunnah. Just as a rope breaks fibre by fibre, so does religion vanish bit by bit by abandoning the Sunnah.” [al-Darimi]

Not following the sunnah of the prophet (ﷺ) is what leads to different sects in Islam. Many have turned away from the sunnah fabricating their own hadith books and adopted un-islamic practices.

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the prophet (ﷺ) said: “The Children of Israel split into 72 sects, and my nation will split into 73, all of which will be in Hell apart from one, which is the main congregation (al jama’ah).” [Ibn Majah]

Abandoning the sunnah also forms false interpretations of the book of Allah. People claiming they read the Qur’an and interpret the meanings for themselves. This is why we see the rise of militant groups and other extremists claiming to be following the deen of Islam.

False interpretation not only results in wrongly following Allah’s commands but also the initiation of bid’a (innovation). The prophet (ﷺ) said: “Every innovation is going astray, and every going astray will be in the Fire.” [Muslim] 

Bid’a is any religious act practiced outside the sunnah of the prophet (ﷺ).

The importance of following the prophet (ﷺ) is highlighted many times in the Qur’an, here are a few:

“Indeed, We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner

That you [people] may believe in Allah and His Messenger and honour him and respect the Prophet and exalt Allah morning and afternoon.

Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, [O Muhammad] – they are actually pledging allegiance to Allah . The hand of Allah is over their hands. So he who breaks his word only breaks it to the detriment of himself. And he who fulfills that which he has promised Allah – He will give him a great reward.” 48:8-10

“He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah ; but those who turn away – We have not sent you over them as a guardian.” 4:80

“…And whatever the Messenger has given you – take; and what he has forbidden you – refrain from. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.” 59:7

It is made very clear; in order for us to obey Allah, we must obey the prophet (ﷺ). The messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with Allah’s guidance may prohibit other things not specifically mentioned in the Qur’an. He (ﷺ) said: “Avoid that which I forbid you to do and do that which I command you to do to the best of your capacity.” [Muslim]

Allah warns us of abandoning the commands of the prophet (ﷺ):

“And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers – We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.” 4:115

Not only does leaving the sunnah affect our deen it also affects the world around us. The prophet (ﷺ) taught us everything from how we run our businesses to how we deal with the people around us. The Islamic world’s political and economic status fragmented because the Muslims abandoned Allah’s book and the sunnah.

His  roles included much more than a prophet: a head of state, an army commander, a soldier, a trader, a father, a husband, a friend.

We as Muslims can only truly fulfil our duties to Allah by following His appointed role model, His messenger Muhammad (ﷺ).

We hear today a great misconception that all sunnah is optional, when in fact within the sunnah there are both obligatory and optional actions, but the sunnah as whole is the only way of Islam.

To end, let us take heed of what Allah tells us in the Qur’an:

“Say, [O Muhammad to the people], ‘If you should love Allah, then follow me [the prophet], [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.'” 3:31

Allah know best.