Islam is a religion of equality and fairness. It condemns ruthless business tactics that try to deceive and take advantage of people. It rewards those who through disciplined action earned their wealth.

In the end, it’s in Allah’s decree who will actually achieve success, but many use this as an excuse for not getting out of bed and doing the necessary work. This takes away any personal responsibility from the individual and is not a good attitude to adopt.

The following Hadith tells a story of self-reliance of Prophet Dawud. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said, “The Prophet David used not to eat except from the earnings of his manual labor.” Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2073 In-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 26

By the end of this article you should know the duas to recite for rizq or sustenance, have a healthy and halal perspective on money, and understand the importance of self-reliance.

Dua For Rizq

The Messenger of Allah Used To Say This Supplication During Fajr Prayer.

TRANSLITERATION Allaahumma innee assaluka ilman nafia, wa rizzqan tayyeebun, wa amalan mutaqabilan.’

TRANSLATION ‘O Allaah indeed I ask You for beneficial knowledge, and a good Halal provision, and actions which are accepted.’

Dua-for-Wealth

Narrated Anas: My mother said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Please invoke Allah on behalf of your servant.” He responded, “Rabbanaaa aatina fid dunyaa hasanatawn wa fil aakhirati hasanatanw wa qinaa azaaban Naar”

TRANSLATION “O Allah! increase his wealth and offspring, and bless (for him) what ever you give him” a time of distress.

Verse 201 From Surah Al-Baqarah TRANSLITERATION Rabbanaaa aatina fid dunyaa hasanatawn wa fil aakhirati hasanatanw wa qinaa azaaban Naar

TRANSLATION: But among them is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”

Developing A Healthy Relationship With Money

The thing about money in Islam is comes down to three issues: how you obtained, the way feel about it, and how you use it.

How You Obtained It

There is nothing wrong with wanting to earn money. The problem lies with halal verses haram ways of acquiring it. The basis for buying and selling in Islam is fairly common sense. It’s all about fairness and justice. You are allowed to turn a profit (i.e. sell something at a higher price than you purchased) but it should be a fair dealing.

There is a verse in the Quran regarding this. It warns Muslims against cheating others for a small gains as they will bare the price on day of judgement.

“Indeed, those who exchange the covenant of Allah and their [own] oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter, and Allah will not speak to them or look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them; and they will have a painful punishment”. (Quran 3:77)

Related Post: How To Increase Your Wealth Through Sabr

There’s another hadith about being lenient and generous when negotiating:

Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “May Allah’s mercy be on him who is lenient in his buying, selling, and in demanding back his money.” Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2076 In-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 29

Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said, “The seller and the buyer have the right to keep or return goods as long as they have not parted or till they part; and if both the parties spoke the truth and described the defects and qualities (of the goods), then they would be blessed in their transaction, and if they told lies or hid something, then the blessings of their transaction would be lost.” Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2079 In-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 32

How You Feel About Money

The dangers of money comes when the pursuit of it is more important to than practicing faith. The love of money and pleasure gained from achieving it is haram and a great sin.

In Quran, chapter 57 verse 20 Allah says,

“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children – like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.

“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion”

57:20

What happens to most men who achieve success is they become egotistic believing their success is a result of their intelligence. They often forget they labored for wealth but it was Allah who provided it for them.

Being wealthy can be a gift or a curse. Allah despises pride and money often causes weak people to behave irrationally. They fail to remain humble and will suffer the consequence of this. In Surah Luqman Ayat 38, Allah says:

“And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.”

There’s an important distinction we can make between being proud and having pride. One is self-congratulations, a sign of a maturity while he other is about seeking congratulations. A sign of immaturity.

How You Spend Your Wealth

If having achieved some level of financial success the true test comes in how you choose to spend it. One of the greatest rewards you can do is to give zakat (charity).

The Prophet (saws) said, “The upper hand is better than the lower one (i.e., the spending hand is better than the receiving hand); and begin (charity) with those who are under your care; and the best charity is that which given out of surplus; and he who asks (Allah) to help him abstain from the unlawful and the forbidden, Allah will fulfill his wish; and he who seeks self-sufficiency will be made self-sufficient by Allah” Riyad As-Salihin The Book of Miscellany Hadith 296 

Narrated Abu Masud Al-Badri: The Prophet (saws) said, “A man’s spending on his family is a deed of charity.” Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4006 In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 57

You May Also Be Interested In: Understanding The Reason Why Pork Is Haram

Wanting to have money so you can bring about change is honorable goal to have. But there’s an important lesson worth emphasizing. You do not need to be rich in order to give zakat. It was reported by Abu Dharr that the Messenger of Allah said:

“Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity, commanding good and forbidding evil is charity, your giving directions to a man lost in the land is charity for you. Your seeing for a man with bad sight is a charity for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone from the road is charity for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your brother is charity for you.” Grade : Hasan (Darussalam) Reference : Jami at-Tirmidhi 1956 In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 62

Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity,

Importance of Self Reliance

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

What this ayat means is simple; if you want things to change for you, you have to change. If you want things to get better for you, you have to get better. Allah will seek that you are taken care, but first you must change your internal condition.

See, when you achieve something through your own hard-work it will feel much better than simply being given it. The fulfillment comes from the journey and overcoming the adversity that was required to achieve the goal. Not actually reaching the goal itself. That’s why most people who win the lottery report being less happy after the initial rush has passed.

Narrated Al-Miqdam: The Prophet (saws) said, “Nobody has ever eaten a better meal than that which one has earned by working with one’s own hands. Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2072 In-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 25

Here are a few other hadiths that show the importance of self-reliance:

The Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah, David used to eat from the earnings of his manual labor.” Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2072 In-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 25

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “No doubt, it is better for any one of you to cut a bundle of wood and carry it over his back rather than to ask someone who may or may not give him.” Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2074 In-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 27

Narrated Az-Zubair bin Al-Awwam: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “One would rather take a rope and cut wood and carry it than ask others) Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2075 In-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 28

Conclusion

“If you are grateful, I would certainly give to you more.” (Surah Ibrahim 14:7)

Let us be grateful to Allah (SWT) for what he has given us. The chances are everybody reading this is much more richer than they credit themselves for.

A fun thought experiment is asking yourself would you trade places with Warren Buffet? He is the 3rd richest man in the world net worth of 83 billion. Before you jump and say yes, I will tell you his age which is 88 years old.

I hope you learned something from this article and found it engaging. The main purpose behind MyIslam.org is that you close the browser a little wiser than when you opened it. May Allah grant us wealth and prosperity that we may be able to help ourselves and others.

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