Working Hard To Earn A Living
Working Hard To Earn A Living
Zubair bin `Awwam (radiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, ” It is far better for you to take your rope, go to the mountain, (cut some firewood) carry it on your back, and sell it and thereby save your face than begging from people whether they give you or refuse.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “(Prophet) Dawud (alayhis salaam) ate only out of that which he earned through his manual work.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “(Prophet) Zakariyya (peace be upon him) was a carpenter.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Commentary:
Manual labour or hard work is the Sunnah and way of the prophets and messengers of Allah. Their divine responsibility of prophethood did not deter them from working and earning their livelihood. A man who works and earns, is independent and holds dignity in the eyes of people. In another hadith we learn that the acquisition of halaal and pure sustenance is an obligation after the (primary) obligation of salaah.
We also learn form these ahadith that a person who depends on manual labour and skill for his living should not be considered inferior. No trade is inferior, nor is the person who adopts it.
