Allah’s Promises of Rizq

First off all let’s agree on the meaning of Rizq by the help of what Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmed (damat barkatuhum) mentioned in one of his lectures:

“All aspects of a person’s subsistence and livelihood fall under the definition of rizq, including but not restricted to wealth, status, business and children.”

We see in this capitalist scoiety, everyone will do anything that is possible to gain their Rizq. People think they are expanding their rizq by doing haram, opening liquor shops, but they aren’t. Islam tells us the rizq is assigned at our birth and on top of that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala made five promises of Rizq. Exactly on these I’ll try to shed some light on in this topic.

1. TAQWA

“And whoever fears Allah, for him Allah brings forth a way out, and gives him provision (rizq) from where he does not even imagine…” (Surah At-Talaq: 2/3)

In reference to this Ayaat-i-Karima Mufti Muhammad Shafi’ Sahab (nawarallahu marqadahu) writes in his Tafsir Ma’ariful Qur’an the following explanation of Taqwa: 

“The word taqwa primarily and literally means ‘to guard’ or ‘to refrain’. In Islamic terminology it signifies ‘to guard against sins’. When the word is related to Allah, it is translated as ‘to fear Allah’ and implies ‘to avoid disobedience of Allah and guard against sins’.”

Once, Saiyyidina Umar ibn al-Khattab (radhiallahu anho) asked Saiyyidina Ka’ab Ahbaar (radhiallahu anho): “What is the reality of Taqwa?”

Ka’ab (radhiallahu anho) said: “Have you ever passed a thorny tree?”

Umar (radhiallahu anho) answered: “Yes.”

Ka’ab (radhiallahu anho) asked: “How did you pass?”

Umar (radhiallahu anho) answered: “I passed with such care that I ensured that no thorn got caught into my hem.”

Ka’ab (radhiallahu anho) then elaborated: “In the very same way, the reality of Taqwa is for one to save himself from the thorns of sins and negligence.”

So, this is the first thing with which Allah Ta’ala promised the righteous believers, that He will ease every difficulty of theirs and provide for them all their needs from resources they never expected or thought about.

Listen to this Jumu’ah Bayan by Hahdrat Maulana Yunus Patel Sahib from South Africa on the topic of “Promise of Rizq from unknown sources upon Taqwa”.

2. DAILY FIVE PRAYERS

Everyone who ever spend time in Jama’at should know that through the daily five prayers Allah Ta’ala makes the rizq easy – if you don’t then you should definitely spend time in the way of Allah. Anyone for 4 months? Anyway…

A hadith states: “Salaah is the cause of Allah’s pleasure: It is a beloved act of the Malaikah (angels), a sunnah of the Ambiyaa (alayhimus salam), the nur (light) of ma’rifah is achieved by it, du’aas are accepted, and barakah in rizq is attained.”

Once a Sahabi (radhiallahu anho) said: “When the household of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) experienced difficulty in their expenses he commanded the performing of salaah, and recited this aayah:

“And enjoin upon thy people worship, and be constant therein. We ask not of thee a provision: We provide for thee. And the sequel is for righteousness.” (Surah Ta Ha: 132)”

3. ISTIGHFAR

Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said in another Hadith: “The one who seeks forgiveness for Muslim males and females from Allah Ta’aala twenty six or twenty five times every day, Allah Ta’ala will count that person among those whose Du’a is accepted, and through the barakah of whom those on earth gain rizq (sustenance).”

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) not only made himself 70 till 100 times a day Istighfar and Taubah, but as well enjoined the Muslims to ask Allah Ta’ala frequently for forgiveness. One of the many virtues of Istighfar, that can be found in Ahadith, is that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala deals with the person engaging much in Istighfar in a similar way like with the servant attaining Taqwa.

Sayyidina Abdullah bin Abbas (radhiallahu anho) narrates that Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “The one who (regularly) says Istighfaar, that is, frequently repent to Allah Ta’aala for sins committed, Allah ‘Azza Wa-Jalla will open a path from poverty and difficulties. All sorrow and hardship will be removed, and in its place prosperity and contentment granted. One will receive sustenance from unimagined and unexpected sources.”

4. TAWAKKUL ON ALLAH

Tawakkul on Allah could be translated as sincere reliance on Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. In our context right now it means to be 100% convinced that Allah will definitely give me the rizq, that He has fixed for me. If all creations of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala (malaikah, jinns, humans, animals etc.) come together to change something about that, they simply can not.

Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said: “If you have proper and sincere tawakkul (reliance) on Allah Ta’ala. He will grant you rizq like the birds are given rizq, who come out of their nests in the morning with empty stomachs and return to their nests in the evening with a full stomach. Allah Ta’aala says:

“And whoever places his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him.” (Surah At-Talaq: 3)”

That’s how the Ayaat quoted above continues. Subhan’Allah, what an amazingly illustrious example our beloved Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has given, may Allah shower His blessings upon him and his family.

Sayyidina Imraan bin Husayn (radhiallahu anho) narrates from Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) that: “The person who (sincerely) relies on Allah Ta’aala, Allah Ta’aala will suffice for all the responsibilities of that person. Rizq will be received from such sources, whence it cannot be imagined. The one who relies on the (material) world, Allah Ta’aala hands that person over to the world.”

Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Zakariyya Kandhalvi (rahimullah ta’ala) mentions in his notorious book Fadhail-e-Sadaqat the following saying of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), which emphasis on relying on the power of Allah Ta’ala:

“One who wishes to become the most strongest, should make tawakkul on Allah Ta’aala. One who wishes to become the most respectful, should adopt taqwa (piety). The one who wishes to become the most wealthiest, should rely more in the qudrah (power) of Allah than that which is in ones possession.”

5. INFAAQ FISABILILLAH

It’s no secret that when spending or giving charity in the path of Allah, Allah Ta’ala according to His boundless mercy gives back much times more. There are many Ahadith regarding this, but to spare you time I’ll just type the incident of Hadhrat Sayyidina Ali (karamallahu wajuhu) and a beggar which will make you understand this concept very easily.

Hadhrat Ubaydullah bin Muhammad bin Aisha narrates that when a beggar came to the Ameerul Mu’mineen Hahdrat Ali (radhiallahu ano), he said to (his son) Hadhrat Hasan (radhiallahu anho) or Hadhrat Husayn (radhiallahu anho), “Go to your mother and tell her to give one of the six Dirhams that I had left with her.” His son went and later returned with the message that she said, “You had left the six Dirhams to purchase flour.” Hadhrar Ali (radhiallahu anho) said, “The Iman of a person cannot be true until he has more trust in that which is in Allah’s hands than that which is in his hands.” He then sent a message to her to send all six Dirhams. When she did so, he gave it all to the beggar.

Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anho) had not yet even changed his posture when a man arrived selling a camel. “How much for the camel?” Hahdrat Ali (radhiallahu anho) asked. “A hundred and forty Dirhams,” the man replied. Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anho) told the man to tie the camel by him with the understanding that he would pay for it after a while. The man tied the camel there and then left. Another man then passed by and asked who the camel belonged to. When Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anho) informed him that the camel was his, the man asked him whether he would sell it. “Certainly,” replied Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anho). “How much?”, he asked. “For two hundred Dirhams,” was the reply. The man agreed to buy it, handed over the two hundred Dirhams and then took the camel.

Hadhrat Ali (karamallahu wajuhu) then paid a hundred and forty Dirhams to the man whom he had promised to pay and then returned with sixty Dirhams to (his wife) Hadhrat Fatima (radhiallahu anha). Seeing the money she asked, “What is this?” Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anho) replied, “This is what Allah promised us on the lips of His Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam):

“Whoever brings (carries out) a good act will recieve ten times as much.” (Surah An’aam: 160)”

Subhan’Allah, do I need to say anything more except that this is no fairy tale but a true incident?! The Ulema-i-Kiram have explained many more halal ways of increasing the barakah in your Rizq, but these are the five big points I’ve been taught:

Taqwa, Namaz, Istighfar, Tawakkul and Infaq Fisabilillah.

Oh yeah, and I almost forgot Asbab. There are no promises of Allah attached to Asbab, but our Yaqeen nowadays is made on them. May Allah forgive us and bring all these attributes into our life. Ameen!