How man should seek provisions according to the the Quran and Sunnah. Most of the youth today spend too much time worrying about earning money. So much so that some even resort to unethical means of obtaining it. Islam teaches us that provisions come from Allah. And we should not worry too much about it. However we should not also slack off our duties. We should always put in the right amount of effort. Achieving balance is the key to a healthy and prosperous life.

1. Provision

2. 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

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

4.  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.

6.  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).

7.  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]

8.  “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]

9.  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?

10. 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]

11.  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.

12.  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]

13.  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:

14.  “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.

15.  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.”

16.  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]

17.  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]

18.  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].

19.  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]

20.  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].

21.  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:

22.  “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”.

23.  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.