Encouraging Narrations on Manual Labor
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) engaged in various forms of labor, including herding camels and sheep. He actively participated in the construction of the trench alongside his companions. Additionally, he was known to sew, patch, and wash his own garments. The Prophet emphasized the virtue of earning a livelihood through one’s own efforts, highlighting numerous instances and sayings that encourage work and commend those who earn their sustenance through honest toil. Among the hadiths that promote the value of manual labor are the following:
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “No one has ever eaten food better than that which he earns through his own hands. Indeed, the Prophet of Allah, Dawud (peace be upon him), used to eat from the work of his hands.”
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated: “The best food a man can eat is that which he earns through his own labor, and likewise for his children.”
- He also said: “If the Hour (i.e., the Day of Judgment) is about to be established and one of you has a young sapling in his hand, if he can plant it before the Hour arrives, he should do so.”
Hadiths Favoring Labor over Charity
Among the teachings of the noble Prophet (peace be upon him) that encourage individuals to work rather than rely on the charity of others are the following:
- He said: “It is better for one of you to carry a bundle of firewood on his back than to ask someone for help, who may either give or refuse to give.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked: “The upper hand is better than the lower hand; the upper hand is the one that gives while the lower hand is the one that asks.”
- He further commented: “It is better for one of you to take his rope and bring back a load of firewood to sell, so that Allah may protect his face (dignity), than to ask the people, who may either give or refuse.”
Wisdom from the Righteous on the Value of Manual Work
The following are sayings from the righteous predecessors that emphasize the importance of diligent work:
- Salman Al-Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I love to eat from the earnings of my own labor.”
- Muslim reported: “Muawiya ibn Qurra (may Allah have mercy on him) met me while I was returning from collecting fodder. He asked me what I had obtained, and I replied that I bought something for my family. He then remarked that he preferred to engage in such work over standing in prayer at night and fasting during the day.”
- Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: “I do not believe that a person with ten thousand dirhams should refrain from earning, for if he does not, he might not be generous to his neighbors or provide for his family.”
- According to Salim, the freedman of Zaid ibn Suhan: “I was with my master Zaid ibn Suhan in the market when Salman Al-Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by carrying a large amount of food. Zaid questioned him, ‘O Abu Abdullah, do you do this while you are a companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him)?’ Salman responded, ‘When the soul assures its provision, it finds tranquility and can devote itself to worship without distractions.'”