In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You" Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala
THE MEANINGS OF RIZQ
Allah (swt) says, "Verily,
Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties
for (the price) that theirs shall be the Paradise…. " [TMQ Surah At-Tawbah:111]
As
a rule of thumb, we naturally tend to worry about things that are in
our possession. So for example, we suffer agitation if we get a scratch
on our car as opposed to if it happens to someone else or become anxious
when our. Generally, the two most prized possession that we worry about
(and we assume is ours) are our lives and wealth. But Allah Azza Wajjal
reminds us in this Ayah that these things are not ours, for He has
purchased it from us, so why worry about these matters?
There
still seems to be a lack of understanding about the concept of rizq
amongst ourselves, such that we often confuse the circumstances by which
we attain our rizq with the actual cause of rizq. We have assured
ourselves that our Rizq, present and future will come primarily from our
own efforts. The more we struggle and strive, the more we shall
accomplish and achieve.
Sure,
our belief system dictates that everything comes from Allah (swt), but
our attitudes expose the contrary. This has led us then to prioritise
our work or family commitments above the commitments to the da'wah.
Perhaps this is because we live in a secular & capitalist society
where we have been taught to believe that we are solely responsible for
creating our own wealth and opportunities, and the fact we live in
difficult economic times.
Yes,
Islam teaches us that a man should go and earn his living, and this is a
noble act in the eyes of Allah (swt). And yes, most of us have several
responsibilities, be they to our parents, our children, or both or work
and there are always bills to pay. But seeking our rizq, should not be
of such paramount importance that involves spending the greatest time,
energy and focus on. It is a priority but it is in a long list of
priorities. And most importantly who is it that defines our priorities?
Allah
(swt) says: "Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers,
your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that ye have gained; the
commerce in which ye fear a decline: or the dwellings in which ye
delight – are dearer to you than Allah, or His Messenger, or the
striving in His cause;- then wait until Allah brings about His decision
(i.e. Torment): and Allah guides not the rebellious." [TMQ Surah
At-Tawbah: 24]
So
Allah mentions those things which in themselves are obligations such as
the rights of parents, rights of spouses etc, but He puts them all into
context for us and lets us know of the consequences of putting them
before Allah and His Messenger.
And
which do we prioritise? A clear understanding of rizq is one of the
major influences in our life, which determines how we can make the right
decisions when it comes to balancing our other responsibilities.
RIZQ IS FROM ALLAH
Rizq
is in the hands of Allah – One of the beautiful names of Allah(swt) is
Ar Razzaaq The Provider, The Providence, The Supplier, The Bestower of
Sustenance.The One who creates all means of nourishment and subsistence.
The One who provides everything that is needed.
Allah
(swt) says, "Lo! Allah (swt) is that who gives livelihood, the Lord of
unbreakable might." [TMQ Surah adh-Dhariyat:58]. Also He advises that:
"We provide for you" [TMQ Surah Al-Anaam:151]
These
ayaat clearly indicate that Allah (swt) is the Razzaq (Provider) and
that Rizq is ascribed to Him alone – He provides to whom He wills, and
this authority of provision is reserved for Him alone.
Allah (swt) also says, "And
eat of the things which Allah (swt) has provided for you, as lawful and
good, and keep your duty to Allah in Whom you believe." [TMQ Surah Al-Ma'idah: 88]
In
this Ayah Allah encourages us to partake in what Allah has provided for
us, but reminds us to keep our duty to Him. Allah connects these 2
subjects and warns us not to allow the partaking in provision to allow
us to transgress any of His other commands. Allah is also reminding us
that the rizq we have, no matter how much we feel we might have "earned"
it, is not from ourselves but has been provided by Allah.
It
also important to note that rizq is not associated with man in any
verse or hadith for that matter except through its management and
distribution, like Allah says: "Do not give to the foolish (what is in)
your (keeping of their) wealth, which Allah (swt) has given you to
maintain; but feed and clothe them from it." [TMQ Surah An-Nisa:5]
Allah also connects having Taqwa with the provision of Rizq in the following verse: "And whoever fears Allah – He will make a way out for him. And will provide for him from where he does not expect." [TMQ Surah At-Talaq: 2-3]
This
means that though we may think we know exactly where our salaries are
coming from every month; there are times when all of us are provided for
in a time of need, in a way we could not have imagined. Think back to a
time when you were desperate for some help, something was stolen and
then replaced with something better, you were broke or on your last and
some money appeared from a source you could not have imagined, or even
just being offered something to eat at a time when you did not expect
it.
These are all simple examples of being provided for without any effort on our part.
This
does not mean, however, we go to the extreme of leaving our work and
obligation to ourselves and our family as this would be disobeying the
laws of Allah (swt) as we are commanded to strive to obtain our rizq as
Allah (swt) says: "And when the prayer is ended, then disperse in the
land and seek of Allah (swt)'s bounty." [TMQ Surah Al-Jummuah:10]
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, and
have firm belief in Ar-Razzaq to provide for us.
Imam
ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali rahimullah states in his book Jami al-ulum wa
`l-hikam fi sharh khamsina hadithan min jawami al-kalim that "… the
slave should be more sure of what is in the hand of Allah than he is of
that which is in his own hand. This arises from soundness and strength
of certainty, because Allah guarantees the provisions of His slaves and
is responsible for them."
Allah (swt) says: "There is no creature on the earth which is not dependent upon Allah for its provision." [TMQ Surah Hud: 6]
Allah (swt) also says: "Your provision is in heaven – and what you are promised." [TMQ Surah adh-Dhariyat: 22]
RIZQ IS FIXED
Rizq
is fixed in its amount. It is another important concept to understand,
that is the rizq for each and every human has already been decreed by
Allah (swt).
Ibn Mas'ud narrated that Allah's Messenger (saw) said to his wife Umm Habiba:
"Verily you have asked Allah about the duration of life already set,
and the steps you would take, and the sustenance the share of which is
fixed. Nothing will take place before its due time, and nothing will be
deferred beyond when it is due." [Muslim].
A
Muslim must always rely upon Allah (swt), this belief gives the
believer the strength to overcome difficulties. Someone with the correct
understanding that his provision is from Allah (swt), will trust fully
in Allah (swt) to provide for him especially when times are difficult.
Allah
(swt) said: "Allah increases the provision (rizq) for whom he wills,
and straitens (it from whom He wills), and they rejoice in the life of
the world, whereas the life of this world as compared with the hereafter
is but a brief passing enjoyment" [TMQ Ar-Ra'd: 26].
So
if times are difficult the true believer sees it as a test from Allah
(swt), and it is He (swt) who will provide what is due. We take heed in
what the ayah states that the life of this world "…is but a brief
passing enjoyment."
Confronted
with difficult times, such as the current economic climate, we may be
tempted in desperation to resort to working long hours, or taking a
second job such that it consumes all our energies that we neglect our
other responsibilities but the steadfast believer who understands that
his rizq is from Allah (swt), who understands the prophetic advice when
the prophet (saw) said:
"Let
not the fear of people stop anyone of you from saying what is true, or
doing something important, because what you say or do will not keep you
from your rizq, or keep you from your ajl (life span)."
…
and who understands that he may be prevented from his provision because
of a haram action that he does as stated in the hadith of Thawban in
Ahmad that the Prophet (saw) said "The slave is forbidden provision because of a wrong action that he does".
VALUE OF WEALTH
One
final quality of the believer, who has understood rizq in its correct
context, is the small value he places upon his wealth, or rather the
value he places upon it is of a different type. He knows it is a burden,
he knows his provision is fixed and that Allah (swt) will provide for
him so there is no need to fear in spending his wealth freely in a
righteous manner, as these deeds will benefit him in the hereafter
whereas the material wealth he accumulates and the items he has bought
with them and covets will not.
Abu
Dawud and at-Tirmidhi narrated that Umar ibn al-Khattab said: The
Messenger of Allah (saw) ordered us to give sadaqah and that agreed with
the property that I had so I said, `Today I will outdo Abu Bakr if I am
ever to outdo him,' and I brought half of my wealth. The Messenger of
Allah (saw) said, `What have you left for your family?' I said, `I have
left the like of it.' Then Abu Bakr came with everything that he had,
and he said, `Abu Bakr what have you left for your family?' He said, `I
have left for them Allah and His Messenger.' I said, `I will never ever
outdo him in anything.'
Or
the story of Mus'ab bin Umair, who the Prophet (saw) used to say,
"There is nobody more handsome in Mecca than Mus`ab. There is no person
in the city better clothed and fed than Mus`ab. There is no child
brought up with mote affection and love than him."
He
was from a wealthy family but after his acceptance of Islam he devoted
all his life to the cause of Allah and His Messenger such that once he
presented himself to prophet (saw) in such a condition that he had only a
piece of skin with patches here and there to cover his body. When the
companions of prophet (saw) saw this, they hung their heads in awe.
The
Prophet (saw) said: "Alhamdulillah Now the condition of the world and
worldly people should change. This is the young man who had no equal in
Makkah in the luxurious style in which he was brought up. But the regard
for virtue and love for Allah and his Prophet have made him indifferent
to all worldly pleasures."
The
carrier of the Da'wa must be ready to face the trials and tribulations
that those who oppose it will place in his or her path. The only way to
prepare for this is to have the clear knowledge of the key Islamic ideas
such as Rizq (sustenance) being from Allah (swt), and Al-Tawakkul
(reliance on Allah [swt]) amongst other ideas.
This
understanding must be well thought out and free from doubt as it will
cause the believer to be freed from the struggle and exhaustion to
accumulate wealth and places his focus upon carrying the call. It will
also produce an individual who sticks to the shariah rules when
obtaining wealth and someone who is characterised with generosity,
actively seeking useful ways to spend or invest his wealth which will
benefit him through earning Allah's pleasure.
DUA
- ALLAAHUMMA INNEE AS-ALUKA RIZQAN WAASI-AN T'AYYIBBAN MIN RIZQIKA
- SUBH'AANAKA MAALIKIL H'AYYIL QAYYOOMIL LAD'EE LAA YAMOOT
- ALLAAHUMMA RABBIS SAMAAWAATIS SABI-I WA RABBAL A'RSHIL A'ZEEM IQZ'I A'NNAD DAYNA WA AGHNINAA MINAL FAQR
- ALLAAHUMMA TAWALLA AMREE WA LAA TAWALLA AMREE GHAYRAKA
http://thekhalids.org/index.php/newsletter-archive/610-1-the-meanings-of-rizq
http://seekershub.org/ans-blog/2014/01/13/the-meaning-of-rizq-provision-when-used-in-the-quran-and-sunnah
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