Theme: The Virtue of Merchant & Business
Allah’s messenger (ﷺ) said:
““No doubt, one had better take a rope (and cut) and tie a bundle of wood and sell it whereby Allah will keep his face away (from Hell-fire) rather than ask others who may give him or not”.
Narrated by Az-Zubair bin Al-Awwam
(Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari No. 2373)
In Islam, earning a living is a noble act when it is done with the right intentions and the firm faith in Allah’s provisions.
Imam Ghazali explains these intentions in his book ihya’ ulumuddin. He said: “place an intention (that earning a living is):
- for refraining from having to beg
- for restraining the greed for human’s wealth by remaining satisfied with lawful earnings
- for helping religious causes through his/her earning
- and for upholding the duties of maintaining the family
Regardless of the job class, whether it be a job that is low paying or ignored by the public, Allah urges us to work and be not worried about His sustenance. Verse 15 of Surah al-Mulk states: “He it is Who made the earth subservient to you. So traverse in its tracks and partake of the sustenance He has provided. To Him will you be resurrected”
