5.13. THE BEST PROFESSION
The best way to make a living is to trust Allah by having confidence in the fact that He really is enough for the servant and to think good about Him. Those concerned about their provisions must turn to Allah, Exalted, and supplicate, for He says (as related by the Prophet: ‘Every one of you is hungry save the one i feed, so ask me to feed you and i will do so. My servants, every one of you is naked save the one I clothe, so ask me to clothe you and I will do so.’
Al-TirmidhI relates from Anas (radijAllahu ‘anhu) that the Messenger of Allah said: “Let each of you ask what he needs from His Lord, even if it be a strap for his sandal (to replace a broken one), for if He does not facilitate that, then no one will.
Allah, Most High, says in His Book:
“And ask Allah for his bounty.” (al-Nisa’ (4): 32)
And
“And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah.” (al-Jummah (62): 10)
While it is true that the previous ayah talks about the Friday Prayer, the meaning applies to all other prayers equally. It is for this reason, and Allah knows best, that the Prophet ordered those who wish to enter a masjid to say:
“O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy” and those who exit one to say: “O Allah, I ask for your bounty.” The Khalil ( ‘alayhis-salam) said:
“So seek from Allah provision and worship Him and be grateful to Him.” (al- Ankabut (29): 17)
This is a command, and a command in the Islamic law is binding. It is thus clear that seeking help from Allah and turning to Him is an extremely important foundation for seeking provisions and other matters as well.
When collecting one’s money, a person should do so with a generous heart in hope that it will be blessed for him. He should not collect it with patronage and anxiety. He should see money like he sees the toilet; he is in need of it but it has no place in his heart. Seeking money if he chooses to seek it should therefore be like fixing the toilet. Al-TirmidhI and others relate a hadith connected to the Prophet which says: “If one starts his morning with the world as his greatest concern, Allah deranges his affairs and disperses his means of subsistence and he will only get from this world what has been written for him. On the other hand, if one starts his morning with the hereafter as his greatest concern, Allah composes his state of affairs and puts his richness in his heart. The world will come to him yielding.”
Some of the Salaf have said: ‘You need the world but you need your portion of the afterlife more. If you begin from your portion of the afterlife, it will pass by your portion of the world and you may gather it in abundance.’ Allah, Most High, says:
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. Indeed, it is Allah who is the (continual) Provider, the firm possessor of strength.” (al-Dhariyat (51): 56-58)
With regard to the preferred profession and whether it should be manufacturing, trade, construction, agriculture, or something else, this varies from one person to another. I do not know of any general rule regarding this, but if an opportunity presents itself, one should perform the Prayer of Guidance (istikhara) as received from the teacher of goodness. There are unbelievable blessings in doing so. In any other case, one should do what suits his situation the best without going through great trouble in trying to find another job unless there is something abhorrent religion wise in what he is currently doing.
By Shaykhu’l-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
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