Improving Your Financial Situation: Islamic Guidance on Work

Islamic Guidance on Improving Financial Situation Through Hard Work

How to Improve the Economic Situation in the Current Context?

I have been receiving messages from many common people asking for a prayer or a wazifa (invocation) that can help them find employment and resolve their financial issues, while private messages from scholars regarding financial assistance have also been coming in. This made me think to shed some light on this issue from an Islamic perspective, so that both the general public and scholars can get some guidance on economic matters.

I believe that those who are lamenting about their current situation, extending their hands to people, or struggling with loans should adopt any work that is available to them as a means of livelihood, whether it be carrying wood, transportation work, farming, construction, sewing, or any kind of manual labor. One of our problems, especially among a certain class including scholars, is the tendency to look down upon many professions that involve manual labor because they are considered lowly in society’s view. Even today, laborers are derogatorily called “Jolahas” (weavers). Remember, in Islam, no lawful profession is considered low or inferior. Another issue is that many people prefer comfort and air-conditioned jobs with higher salaries.

Due to these two reasons, many remain trapped in financial troubles, knocking on doors for help. In the sight of Allah, the most beloved earnings are those earned through one’s own hands. Muqaddam bin Ma’di Karb reports that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say:

ما أكل أحد منكم طعاما أحب إلى الله عز وجل من عمل يديه (مسند أحمد)

Translation: “None of you has eaten food more beloved to Allah than that which he has earned by his own hands.”

This same narration from the same companion is found in Sahih Bukhari as:

ما أكَلَ أحَدٌ طَعامًا قَطُّ، خَيْرًا مِن أنْ يَأْكُلَ مِن عَمَلِ يَدِهِ، وإنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ عليه السَّلامُ، كانَ يَأْكُلُ مِن عَمَلِ يَدِهِ (صحيح البخاري:2072)

Translation: “No one has ever eaten better food than that which they earned through their own hands, and indeed the Prophet of Allah, Dawood (peace be upon him), used to eat from the work of his hands.”

This hadith encourages the idea that earnings through one’s own hard work are dignified because this is the profession of the Prophets, and it is beloved to Allah. Can anything that the Prophets did ever be considered lowly or embarrassing? Absolutely not!

Islam has urged the pursuit of lawful and pure sustenance and commanded gratitude for it, as Allah says:

فَكُلُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا وَاشْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ (النحل:114)

Translation: “Eat from what Allah has provided for you, that which is lawful and pure, and be grateful for the favor of Allah if you worship Him.”

And the Prophet (peace be upon him) speaks of the purity of earnings when he says:

ما كسبَ الرجلُ كسبًا أطيبُ من عملِ يدِه وما أنفقَ الرجلُ على نفسِه وأهلِه وولدِه وخادِمِه فهو صدَقةٌ (صحيح ابن ماجه:1752)

Translation: “No earnings are better than that which a man earns through his own hands, and whatever a man spends on himself, his wife, his children, and his servant is charity.”

This hadith shows that among the purest forms of earnings is that earned through one’s own hands. Therefore, one should not feel ashamed of engaging in any form of manual labor. Among humans, the best of people are the Prophets, and they all engaged in various forms of manual labor. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

ما بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيًّا إلَّا رَعَى الغَنَمَ، فقالَ أصْحابُهُ: وأَنْتَ؟ فقالَ: نَعَمْ، كُنْتُ أرْعاها علَى قَرارِيطَ لأهْلِ مَكَّةَ (صحيح البخاري:2262)

Translation: “Allah never sent a prophet without him tending sheep. His companions asked, ‘What about you, O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I used to tend them for a few Qarareet (coins) for the people of Makkah.'”

In addition to tending sheep, many Prophets were involved in other forms of handwork. For example, Noah (peace be upon him) worked as a carpenter, Idris (peace be upon him) was a tailor, Elias (peace be upon him) and Dawood (peace be upon him) worked with iron, and Ibrahim (peace be upon him) built the Ka’bah, the most honored house, showing that they all knew the value of labor. Should we not take a lesson from this? If the current situation is worse than ever, we should not hesitate to engage in any work that can earn us a livelihood.

Consider this hadith about how the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade begging and encouraged working hard even in times of difficulty. Zubair bin Al-Awwam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:

لَأَنْ يَأْخُذَ أَحَدُكُمْ حَبْلَهُ، فَيَأْتِيَ بحُزْمَةِ الحَطَبِ علَى ظَهْرِهِ، فَيَبِيعَهَا، فَيَكُفَّ اللَّهُ بهَا وجْهَهُ خَيْرٌ له مِن أَنْ يَسْأَلَ النَّاسَ أَعْطَوْهُ أَوْ مَنَعُوهُ (صحيح البخاري:1471)

Translation: “It is better for any one of you to take his rope and go and bring a bundle of firewood on his back and sell it, and Allah will preserve his dignity through it than for him to ask people, whether they give him or refuse him.”

No matter how bad the situation becomes, this hadith teaches us that if we cannot find any other work, even carrying wood and selling it is better than begging. This is not to say that one should limit oneself to such tasks, but it implies that when seeking lawful and pure sustenance, one must be willing to endure hard work and struggle. Islam is a religion of action and conduct, urging us towards effort for success in both this world and the hereafter. Without action, neither success in the world nor the hereafter is possible.

Even when the end of life is near, Islam encourages action. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

إنْ قامَتِ السَّاعةُ وفي يدِ أحدِكُم فَسيلةً فإنِ استَطاعَ أن لا تَقومَ حتَّى يغرِسَها فلْيغرِسْها (صحيح الأدب المفرد:371)

Translation: “If the Hour (Judgment Day) is established and one of you has a small sapling in his hand, and if he is able to plant it before the Hour comes, he should do so.”

This hadith shows the value Islam places on time and how even in the briefest moments, action is encouraged. It also points to the importance of agriculture and adopting it as a profession. In Sahih Bukhari, it is clearly mentioned that Muslims are encouraged to engage in agriculture:

ما مِن مُسْلِمٍ يَغْرِسُ غَرْسًا، أَوْ يَزْرَعُ زَرْعًا، فَيَأْكُلُ منه طَيْرٌ أَوْ إِنْسَانٌ أَوْ بَهِيمَةٌ، إِلَّا كانَ له به صَدَقَةٌ (صحيح البخاري:2320)

Translation: “Any Muslim who plants a tree or sows seeds, and birds, humans, or animals eat from it, it will be a charity for him.”

There are many more details about the economy, but I will conclude here. In summary, to improve one’s economic situation, regardless of what society may think or what professions are considered prestigious, engage in whatever work you are capable of, with courage and trust in Allah. There are countless tasks available that require no degrees or special skills, only hard work. I do not mean to say that you should not pursue business or enter advanced economic fields, but I aim to encourage those who are desperate and say they have no work. Work is everywhere around you, and you can always find something to do. If you don’t want to work, that’s a different matter.

Ibn al-Jawzi mentions in his biography of Umar bin al-Khattab that Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to ask about anyone who caught his interest whether they had work. If he found out they were idle, they would fall out of his favor. Imam al-Suyuti also narrates in al-Durr al-Munthir that Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) disliked those who were idle, neither working in this world nor the hereafter.

Work is in your hands. You can choose to do it or not, but never say, “I have no work.” Yes, some work may be embarrassing or go against societal views, but if we earn our sustenance with dignity from our own hands, it is far better than begging or being ashamed to ask for help. At the same time, make du’a (prayers) to Allah for sustenance, and seek His blessings in your efforts. Allah is the Provider, and He gives sustenance to those who make effort.