God’s Provision for His Servants
Allah – The Exalted – has established immutable laws governing provision. Those who adhere to these laws are blessed with sustenance from Him. As the Creator of all beings, Allah takes responsibility for their sustenance. He said: (There is no creature on earth but its provision is due from Allah; He knows its dwelling and its resting place; all is in a Clear Book.) The first among these laws, as outlined in the Holy Quran, is that provision requires effort and pursuit. To obtain it, one must strive diligently and place their trust in Allah, as taught by the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. Allah – The Almighty – distributes the sustenance of His servants knowingly and purposefully, and it is essential for a servant to recognize that their provision will inevitably reach them. Therefore, they should not hasten or seek it through unlawful means, for the Prophet, peace be upon him, advised: (Do not be anxious about your provision; no servant will die until his final sustenance reaches him. Fear Allah, and be moderate in your quest, seeking the lawful while avoiding the unlawful.)
Ways to Attract Sustenance
Allah – The Almighty – guarantees the sustenance of all creatures, allocating what is necessary for the sustenance of their lives, regardless of whether the being is human, plant, or animal. This applies to both believers and non-believers. Allah said: (There is no creature on earth but its provision is due from Allah.) However, Allah specifically blesses His righteous servants with the sustenance of faith and the guidance of the heart. There are numerous spiritual causes that help attract provision, which include:
- Piety and God-consciousness: This is a fundamental reason encompassing other causes; one who strives for Allah’s pleasure and closeness will find their sustenance multiplied unexpectedly. Allah said: (And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect.)
- Increased seeking of forgiveness: This is emphasized in the words of Allah as related by Prophet Noah, who said: (I said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord; indeed, He is the Most Forgiving. He will send down upon you rain from the sky in [continuing] showers and give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.)
- Maintaining family ties: This practice has a significant impact on attracting provision, as stated by the Prophet, peace be upon him.
- Spending in the path of Allah: Human nature often inclines towards stinginess; however, giving liberates the soul from this trait. The One who provided wealth is also the One who commanded spending and has promised a reward for it by multiplying one’s wealth.
- Marriage based on chastity and the desire for children: This can lead to blessings from Allah in ways one may not expect. Allah said: (And marry those who are single among you and those who are worthy among your male and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty, and Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.)
- Honoring and showing kindness to the weak.
- Promptness in seeking provision: The Prophet used to send out troops in the early part of the day for this very reason.
- Migration in the path of Allah.
- Dedication to the worship of Allah, involving sincerity of intention and humility during acts of worship.
- Continuing between Hajj and Umrah: The Prophet said: (Continue between Hajj and Umrah, for they remove poverty and sins just as the furnace removes impurities from iron, gold, and silver.)
Categories of Sustenance
Allah has distributed sustenance among His servants just as He has divided their morals and virtues. Among them are the poor, who may struggle to find their daily bread, and the needy, who live in poverty, as well as the chaste, who remain hidden among people and do not seek charity from the wealthy. Unfortunately, this latter group often goes unnoticed. On the other hand, the wealthy are those who have enough provisions for their needs. Wealth can be classified into different levels; some possess just enough to cover their needs, with only a small surplus, while others have wealth that exceeds their necessities, leading them to engage in luxury and indulgence, being preoccupied with protecting and maintaining their wealth.
The third category consists of those who are immensely wealthy, commanding lands and influence, with people at their beck and call, vying for their favor. Despite their riches, they live in constant fear of losing it, suffering from a lack of peace and joy, burdened with a long account to settle on the Day of Judgment. The best type of provision is that which lies in between poverty and excess abundance, a moderate sustenance that is secure and unaffected by external factors. Regardless of a servant’s efforts and endeavors, they will only attain what Allah has decreed for them. A wise person will not distress over what they have missed in this worldly life.
Types of Provision
Many people mistakenly believe that provision is solely confined to financial wealth; however, this is a misconception. Here we outline some truths regarding provision and its various types:
- Financial wealth is indeed a form of provision, but health is also a form of wealth, as is knowledge, obedience to Allah, a righteous and chaste spouse, wisdom, and children. Hence, wealth is merely one type of provision; it is a means, not an end.
- Provision includes anything from which a person derives benefit; what does not yield personal benefit is considered mere earnings. Everything that fulfills a servant’s needs is their provision, whereas anything beyond these needs is deemed as earned through effort, for which they will be held accountable by Allah regarding its means of acquisition and how it was spent. Upon death, a person’s soul may lament, saying: “O my family and children, I accumulated wealth from lawful and unlawful sources and spent it in lawful and unlawful ways; the joy is for you and the burden is upon me.” Thus, any benefit obtained, whether lawful or unlawful, pure or impure, permissible or impermissible, is classified as sustenance. Therefore, believers are enjoined to seek only lawful sustenance, as mentioned in the Quran: (O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you.)
Effects of Belief in Allah, the Provider
Among the effects of believing in Allah, the Provider, are the following:
- Gaining certainty that sustenance is solely in the hands of Allah, tied to His wisdom and purpose.
- Placing trust in Allah by acknowledging that one’s sustenance was decreed while in the womb.
- Recognizing that gratitude to Allah for His blessings is a fundamental cause for the continuity and increase of sustenance, and Allah – The Exalted – is obligated to provide for those who are grateful.
- Being conscious of Allah in the methods of acquiring sustenance, steering clear of forbidden means, and understanding that one will be held accountable on the Day of Judgment for how wealth was earned and spent.
References
- ↑ Surah Hud, Verse 6.
- ↑ Narrated by Al-Suyuti, in Al-Jami Al-Saghir, from Jabir Ibn Abdullah, Page or Number: 9777, Authentic.
- ↑ Amir Al-Haddad (15-12-2011), “Allah’s Law in Provision”, www.ar.islamway.net, retrieved on 3-4-2019. Edited.
- ↑ Surah Hud, Verse 6.
- ↑ Muhammad Wilali (18-4-2017), “Twenty Causes for Attracting Provision (1)”, www.alukah.net, retrieved on 6-4-2019. Edited.
- ↑ “Keys to Lawful Provision”, www.al-eman.com, retrieved on 6-4-2019. Edited.
- ↑ Surah Al-Talaq, Verses 2-3.
- ↑ Surah Noah, Verses 10-12.
- ↑ Surah An-Nur, Verse 32.
- ↑ Narrated by Al-Albani, in Sahih Al-Targheeb, from Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud, Page or Number: 1133, Good Authentic.
- ↑ Khalid Al-Bulhid, “Thought: (Categories of Provision)”, www.saaid.net, retrieved on 5-4-2019. Edited.
- ↑ Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 172.
- ↑ “Types of Provision”, www.nabulsi.com, 30-10-1992, retrieved on 5-4-2019. Edited.
- ↑ “The Provider”, www.library.islamweb.net, 2-9-2012, retrieved on 6-4-2019. Edited.