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The source of our next paycheck and ensuring the well-being of ourselves and our loved ones weighs heavily on all of us. This concern is precisely where the concept of rizq finds its significance within Islam. Rizq is defined as the provisions that have been apportioned to every individual. While money undoubtedly falls under this umbrella, rizq extends beyond mere monetary matters. It envelops a spectrum that ranges from fundamental material necessities to the nourishment of our spiritual selves.

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Introduction:

The most crucial point to know regarding rizq is that Allah ﷻ is the ultimate source of all provision and sustenance. As He says in Surah Hud:

وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّۭ فِى كِتَـٰبٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ (٦)

There is not a creature that moves on earth whose provision is not His concern. He knows where it lives and its [final] resting place: it is all [there] in a clear record. (11:6)

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In the verse above, ‘clear record’ alludes to the fact that everyone’s rizq has been predetermined and is written in the Preserved Tablet. In a famous hadith, we learn that while a child is still in the womb, an angel is told by Allah ﷻ:

"اكْتُبْ عَمَلَهُ وَرِزْقَهُ وَأَجَلَهُ وَشَقِيٌّ أَوْ سَعِيدٌ."

“Write his deeds, his sustenance, his lifespan, and whether he will be unfortunate or fortunate” (Bukhari 3208).

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Striving for Rizq:

The fact that our rizq is predetermined doesn't negate our responsibility to exert effort in attaining it. While possessing rizq is the outcome, the pursuit of the means to achieve it remains within our domain. Consider the example of Hajar AS. Although she was confident in Allah’s ﷻ care after Ibrahim AS left her, when her child needed water, she did not idly wait. She actively searched for it. When Allah ﷻ witnessed her determination, He provided her with water in such abundance that its benefits endure to this day. Likewise, in our workplaces, we should strive to excel and do our work with ihsan, paving the way for Allah’s ﷻ blessings in the form of rizq.

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Additionally, knowing that our rizq is predetermined should deter us from resorting to forbidden avenues to acquire it. Pursuing rizq through haram means will not increase our provisions; instead, it drains our rizq of blessings. Such efforts not only leave us perpetually dissatisfied with our earnings but also lead to the accumulation of sins.

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Five Ways to Attain Rizq:

While striving is important to securing our rizq, it is not the only tool we have. There are many spiritual avenues through which Allah ﷻ opens the doors to prosperity that we often neglect. The first of these methods is by strengthening our belief in Allah ﷻ. Undoubtedly, we observe our earnings flowing in from our employer, like clockwork, with direct deposits punctuating our bank statements every two weeks. Amidst this routine, it is easy to err, attributing our sustenance solely to our employers. Yet, in reality, it is Allah ﷻ who has assumed the divine title of Al-Razzaq (The Provider), and He is indeed the ultimate source of our provisions. As aptly expressed by Imam Shafi’i (d. 204/820):

تَوَكَّلتُ في رِزقي عَلى اللَهِ خالِقي

وَأَيقَنتُ أَنَّ اللَهَ لا شَكَّ رازِقي

I have placed my trust in Allah, the Creator of my sustenance,

And I am certain that Allah, without a doubt, is my Provider.

وَما يَكُ مِن رِزقي فَلَيسَ يَفوتَني

وَلَو كانَ في قاعِ البِحارِ العَوامِقِ

Whatever portion of my sustenance I have, it will not escape me,

Even if it were at the bottom of the deep seas.

سَيَأتي بِهِ اللَهُ العَظيمُ بِفَضلِهِ

وَلَو لَم يَكُن مِنّي اللِسانُ بِناطِقِ

By His grace, the Almighty will bring it to me,

Even if my tongue fails to articulate.

فَفي أَيِّ شَيءٍ تَذهَبُ النَفسُ حَسرَةً

وَقَد قَسَمَ الرَحمَنُ رِزقَ الخَلائِقِ

For in what circumstance does the soul despair?

When the Most Merciful has apportioned the sustenance of His creatures.

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The scholars highlight a profound insight behind the Quranic correlation between adversity and prosperity: Allah ﷻ orchestrates moments of ease in response to our inclinations towards Him. Imagine the scenario where we face the setback of unemployment, plunging us into a period of hardship. At times, it might even seem as though our rizq is being withheld from us. Yet, within these trials, the wisest course of action entails seeking solace in Allah ﷻ, reinforcing our connection with Him. This very act of turning back to Him allows for all the doors of rizq to open up for us.

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This aspect holds particular significance, especially for those of us who bear the responsibility of parenthood. As parents, we go to great lengths—enrolling our children in the most prestigious schools and securing them with every requisite material resource. However, amidst this endeavor, we often overlook the vital task of nurturing faith within their hearts. Consequently, when they face rejection from medical school or the elusiveness of their dream job, they find themselves shattered. Throughout their lives, they have been conditioned to perceive sustenance solely through worldly channels, and the reality that it has been Allah ﷻ all along remains unrecognized. True, as parents, it is imperative to offer the best possible means for our children’s success but not at the expense of fortifying their belief in Allah ﷻ.

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A parenting approach that disregards the rightful place of Allah ﷻ as Al-Razzaq stands in direct contrast to the example of the Prophet ﷺ in raising his own children. The Prophet ﷺ advised Fatima RA:

"أُوصِيكِ أَنْ تَقُولِي إِذَا أَصْبَحْتِ وَإِذَا أَمْسَيْتِ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ أَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ وَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ."

“I instruct you to say in the morning and evening, ‘O Living, O Sustainer, by Your mercy I seek deliverance. Take care of all my affairs and do not leave me to the care of myself even for the blink of an eye’” (Nasa’i 10330).

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In a different account, Fatima RA arrived at the residence of the Prophet ﷺ at an unexpected hour. She was hungry and in need of sustenance. In response, the Prophet ﷺ presented her with a choice: either he could offer her five supplications of gratitude to Allah ﷻ, or he could grant her five exceptional privileges that would ensure her immediate access to food. Given her exalted piety, Fatima RA opted for the five expressions of praise and thankfulness. The Prophet ﷺ then instructed her to say:

"يَا أَوَّلَ الأَوَّلِينَ وَيَا آخِرَ الآخِرِينَ وَيَا ذَا الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينِ وَيَا أَرْحَمَ الْمَسَاكِينَ وَيَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ."

“O First of the First, O Last of the Last, O Possessor of Strength and Power, O Most Merciful to the Needy, O Most Merciful of the Merciful” (al-Tadween 403/1).

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The second pathway to securing our rizq involves the practice of istighfar, or seeking forgiveness. The Prophet ﷺ informed us:

"مَنْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ الِاسْتِغْفَارِ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ هَمٍّ فَرَجًا وَمِنْ كُلِّ ضِيقٍ مَخْرَجًا وَرَزَقَهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ."

“Whoever increases his prayers for forgiveness, Allah will grant him relief from every worry, a way out from every hardship, and provide for him in ways he does not expect” (Musnad Ahmed 2234).

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It is well-known that the Prophet ﷺ, despite his exceptional piety, would say astaghfirullah seventy times a day. We too should adopt this practice not only to seek forgiveness for our sins but also to enhance our provisions. As the hadith alludes to, through istighfar, unexpected opportunities might arise—like landing a seemingly unattainable job or receiving an unforeseen bonus from our boss—demonstrating the power of seeking forgiveness from Allah ﷻ.

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The third way to gain access to our rizq is through salah. Allah ﷻ says in Surah Taha:

وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا ۖ لَا نَسْـَٔلُكَ رِزْقًۭا ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ ۗ وَٱلْعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ (١٣٢)

Order your people to pray, and pray steadfastly yourself. We are not asking you to give Us provision; We provide for you, and the rewards of the Hereafter belong to the devout. (20:132)

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Whenever the Prophet ﷺ encountered challenges like hunger or financial constraints, he would turn to his family members, knocking on their doors and urging them to engage in prayer. This was driven by his deep understanding of the hadith qudsi:

"يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ تَفَرَّغْ لِعِبَادَتِي أَمْلأْ قَلْبَكَ غِنَىً، وَأمْلأْ يَدَيْكَ رِزْقًا، يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ لا تَبَاعَدْ مِنِّي فَأَمْلأ قَلْبَكَ فَقْرًا وَأَمْلأ يَدَيْكَ شُغْلًا."

“O son of Adam, dedicate yourself to my worship, and I will fill your heart with riches and your hands with provisions. O son of Adam, do not distance yourself from me, lest I fill your heart with poverty and your hands with preoccupations” (al-Dur al-Manthur 282/2)

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A common tendency among many is to slot their salah into their work routine, often dedicating just a few fleeting moments amidst their bustling schedules. This stems from the notion that prayer time is in competition with productivity. However, the reality is quite the opposite. We should arrange our work schedules to accommodate the times of salah, recognizing that the genuine pathway to tapping into our rizq lies in our devotion to salah. As the hadith reminds us, many proclaim busyness yet make little progress, because they overlook the essential fusion of their efforts with the practice of salah.

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The fourth avenue to unlock our rizq involves nurturing strong family bonds. Amidst the hustle of our work commitments, it is often our families who bear the brunt of our neglect. The ones deserving our utmost attention are often the first to be sidelined. We might arrive home too late to witness our children’s radiant smiles, missing out on those precious moments. In today’s era, even when physically present, we’re frequently absorbed by our phones, impeding us from wholeheartedly appreciating the blessing of family bestowed by Allah ﷻ. As lines of communication fade, relationships weaken, paving the way for misunderstandings and emotional detachment. If only we took heed of the Prophet’s ﷺ advice:

"مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يُبْسَطَ لَهُ رِزْقُهُ أَوْ يُنْسَأَ لَهُ فِي أَثَرِهِ فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ."

“Whoever wishes that their provision is expanded and their lifespan is extended, let them maintain good family relations” (Bukhari 2067).

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The fifth pathway to unlocking our rizq might appear counterintuitive, yet its depth is unparalleled. When we find ourselves in need of sustenance, our typical approach is to request it directly. However, a more effective method is to express our gratitude to Allah ﷻ for the bounties we have already received. As is beautifully conveyed in Surah Ibrahim:

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌۭ (٧)

Remember that He promised, “If you are thankful, I will give you more, but if you are thankless, My punishment is terrible indeed.” (14:7)

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The Prophet ﷺ, who lived such a simple life to the extant that he did not even eat two meals in one day, would wake up in the middle of the night, and cry to his Lord out of gratitude. When Aisha RA would ask him why he was crying, he would reply:

"أَفَلَا أَكُونُ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا."

“Should I not be a grateful servant?” (Bukhari 1130).

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O Allah, the Provider of sustenance, bless us with abundance in our rizq. Increase our provisions from sources we cannot imagine and grant us contentment in what You provide. Open doors of opportunity and bless our efforts with success, all while keeping our hearts grateful and our intentions pure. Ameen.