ISLAMIC HADITH ABOUT EARNING There is no doubt that one of the obligations upon the Muslim is that he earn for himself and his family a pure and halal sustenance. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (SAWl) said: O People! Allah is al-Tayyib (Pure), and He only accepts that which is pure! Allah has commanded the believers what He has commanded the Messengers, for He said, O Messengers! Eat from the pure foods, and do right, and He said, O you who believe! Eat from the pure and good foods We have given you. Then the Prophet (SAW) mentioned a traveller on a long journey, who is dishevelled and dusty, and he stretches forth his hands to the sky, saying, O my Lord! O my Lord! - while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully; how can he (expect to) be answered? [1]It is noticed in this hadith that the Prophet (SAW) emphasised this persons impure earnings by detailing the fact that his food, clothes, drink and nourishment were all obtained from the impure. From this hadith, we learn that both the prophets and the believers have been commanded to eat from the tayyibdt, or the pure things. Purity is achieved when one earns his sustenance in a halal manner, and then uses it to buy halal food. So, if a person buys pure food from stolen money, this will not be accepted from him. Likewise, if one earns money from permissible means, then uses it to buy impermissible items, such as intoxicants, this too will not be accepted from him. Only when both of these conditions have been met - the way one earns money and the way one spends it - will Allahs acceptance be gained. In this beautiful hadith, the Prophet (SAW|) drew a parable between the one who does not care how he earns, but rather takes everything he finds, like the animal that eats from all types of crops in the spring. Spring is the season that gives crops which are generally not suitable for animals to eat. So this is an indication of a greedy person, whose only desire is to increase his or her wealth, regardless of the consequences. Such a person is never satisfied, but rather eats, and eats, and eats, until he or she is destroyed, or is almost about to be destroyed, just like the animal that eats excessively. However, the wise person chooses with care how to earn sustenance, and picks the right types of food to eat. Such a person only takes what is needed, and does not become excessively involved with earning more than the basic needs. Such a person will live a comfortable life, just like the animal that eats the right crop in moderate quantities. Furthermore, such a person will be able to earn more, when the need arises, just like this animal will be able to pasture again when it needs to. How beautiful, then, is this money when earned properly and spent properly! And how evil it is, when earned improperly, and spent improperly! Sources of Income Prohibited In Islam a) Bribery (Al-Baqarah: 188). b) Usurping others’ property (Al-Baqarah: 188). c) Fraud (Al-Imran: 161). d) Stealing and Robbery (Al-Maida: 38). e) Income from sources of vulgarity (Al-Noor: 19). f) Gambling (Al-Maida: 90). g) Wine and its business (Al-Maida: 90). h) Interest (Al-Baqarah: 275).
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 16:39:48 +0000
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