RizqProvision

Parents teach us the following things as we grow up

Study hard or else we won’t get a good degree If we don’t get a good degree we won’t get a job If we don’t get a job we can’t provide for

ourselves If we cannot provide for ourselves, we will die So the objective of life is to seek provision

Rizq according to our Family

At any Muslim family gathering, the conversation starter is, “What is your son doing?” 

Rizq according to our family

Islam teaches us that a man should go and earn his living, and this is a noble act in the eyes of Allah (swt).

Most of us have several responsibilities, be they to our parents, our spouses, our children, etc.

But when our sole purpose in life becomes seeking rizq we will find ourselves in a vicious cycle. You end up becoming the proverbial corporate stooge. There are always bills to pay.

Rizq according to our family

The life of a corporate stooge

Allah (swt) said:

“Say: ‘Truly my Lord enlarges the provision (rizq) for whom He will of His slaves, and (also) restricts (it) for him, and whatever you spend of anything (in Allah’s cause), He will replace it. And He is the best of providers’” [TMQ Saba: 39].

It is part of the aqeedah (belief) of a Muslim that his sustenance and wealth (his rizq) is given to him by Allah (swt).

Rizq according to 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]

Rizq is from Allah

“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]

Rizq is from Allah

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]

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?

Rizq according to Allah

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 (ie. Torment): and Allah guides not the rebellious.” [TMQ Surah At-Tawbah: 24]

Obligations of a Muslim

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 Mesenger.

Obligations of a Muslim

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]

Rizq is from Allah

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:

The nature of Rizq

“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.

The nature of Rizq

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.”

The nature of Rizq

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]

The nature of Rizq

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]

Rizq is fixed

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].

Rizq

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..

“Verily Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills without measure.” [TMQ Surah al-Imran: 37]

Value of Wealth

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].

Value of Wealth

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:

Value of Wealth

“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

To the righteous (when) it is said, "What is it that your Lord has revealed?" they say, "All that is good." To those who do good, there is good in this world, and the Home of the Hereafter is even better and excellent indeed is the Home of the righteous,- (Surah An-Nahl, 30)

Al-Mustawrid reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: What is the example of this worldly life in comparison to the Hereafter other than one of you dipping his finger in the sea? Let him see what he brings forth.

Value of Wealth