By Abdullahi Jamaa
While concerted efforts and strategic planning are deeply entrenched in the pursuit of personal wealth, no amount of hard work without dua and no amount of dua without hard work creates wealth. The two must go together. You ask for it from Allah and you do it by action. Just like in other spheres of life, one should not lazily wait for miracles and dreams to happen overnight.
Dua is a powerful practice that a Muslim must exploit as he strives to earn his daily living. The place of consistent and sincere dua in the pursuit of success is enormous. It is an important part of our faith and belief. We ask everything from Almighty Allah, no matter how big or small. Dua is a means of keeping in touch with Allah and due to it we get closer to our Lord.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls on me.” (Quran 2:186).
Remember the dua of prophet Suleiman (AS), after his father’s death, the prophet begged Allah for a kingdom such as none after him would have, and Allah granted his wish. “He said, “My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower.” (Quran 38:35)
Islamic scholars have opened up an inspiring interpretation of this dua that instils a great value regarding our engagement in this world. Scholars said Suleiman’s dua for a kingdom does not mean that he is materialistic, but rather he has asked for the ability to do more good deeds for the sake of Allah.
Prophet Suleiman (AS) emerged as a competent king in the making of an obedient prophet, a great believer of justice whose mercy has touched not just humans but also animals and insects including ants.
As Muslim we must take a strong hint from this powerful dua. Excelling in this world, earning a living or becoming a successful businessman for the right reasons is an act of worship. We must balance our actions and affairs to gain success for this world and the next.
This dua is a powerful indication that our aspirations are not limited, we can ask for more as along as our motivation is in tandem with our Islamic belief, at the same time we must shake off the fear of the unknown and submit our wealth, career and education to a higher objective. Allah will grant us resources beyond our expectations once we put our focus in the right place.
As one makes efforts to earn a living, there are always unending bottlenecks of challenges, there are so many bridges to cross, so many knots to untie hindering the objectives to success. When there is little headway, when success seems frustratingly out of reach like a desert mirage, there is always one way out of the woods and that is seeking the support of the Almighty Allah. In the eyes of a true believer, Allah is the only true source of strength and power.
A Muslim should keep in mind that you have to go out, work and find your sustenance. It’s not just going to come in your lap. And one should not panic or despair, if one has the correct intention and trust in their Lord and seeks a halal sustenance then he will come back with their stomachs full. One does not need to compromise their religion, their faith, their integrity for some worldly benefit.
‘Umar Bin Khattaab, (RA) heard the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him)saying, “If you trust Allah with right kind of Tawakkul (complete Trust), He will provide you sustenance as He provides for the birds – they go out in the morning with empty stomachs and come back in the evening with full stomachs.” (Tirmizi)
True reliance on Allah
Even as we work hard to make money, there is a strong need for a resilient conviction that without Allah all our efforts like sterile flowers will bear no fruits and the struggle for success both in this world and in the hereafter will all be in vain.
Man therefore can have nothing except what he strives for. Yet behind every hard work can never be success because blessing of efforts can only be achieved through foraging and consolidating endless attempts and concerted efforts amidst the unshaken belief of Allah as the ultimate owner of wealth.
One of the prophet’s words included “It is for us to work and for Allah to give success.” And so apart from working hard, a strong believer must submit to the power and majesty of Allah. We are not allowed to believe in our brains and brawns. Bragging and boosting about wealth and forgetting the mercy, guidance and blessings of Allah is a fitnah that many people in the world today have to contend with.
Honourable companion Abdurrahman Ibn Auf (ra) was not only a wealthy businessman of his time but also a staunch believer with true reliance on Allah. His sense of trust towards the Almighty was so boundless that it is reported that if he picked up a rock it would not have surprised him to find gold or silver. We all know that his impressive state of reliance made him to be among the ten men that were given the glad tidings of paradise.
