Earning For Oneself And One’s Family Is Jihad

Earning For Oneself And One’s Family Is Jihad

Translation: It is narrated from Hadhrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that a person who makes an  effort to earn for his family is in the path of Allah Ta’ala.”

BENEFIT: Not to be concerned about the provisions for one’s family and to just loiter  around is an act of ignorance. On the other hand, to be concerned about their needs and  to endure the difficulty of earning a living is like Jihad. There is encouragement in this  for we learn that earning for one’s family through Halaal means is not Dunya but Deen.

Seeking Halaal Earnings Is Jihad

Translation: Hadhrat Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه reports that Nabi-kareem صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم  has said, “Earning Halaal income is Jihad.”

BENEFIT: This means that there is reward in earning a Halaal livelihood just like in  Jihad because both are the command of Allah Ta’ala and entail obedience to Him. Or it  means that there is difficulty and endeavour in earning a living like there is in Jihad.
Most certainly there is difficulty and endeavour involved in earning a Halaal livelihood in  this day and age. It is difficult; it goes against one’s Nafs. The difficulty is greater while  the profit is less.

BENEFIT: Therefore, O traders, shopkeepers and labourers, earn Halaal income. Do not  fall prey to deception in one’s labour, do not fall short and thereby make one’s income  Haraam or doubtful. Make sure you earn the reward of Jihad and thereby this world as well as the next.

Which Form Of Earning Is Jihad And Which Is Shaytaani

It is reported from Hadhrat Kaab Bin Ujrah رضي الله عنه that Nabi صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم said, “If  a person remains occupied in earning a living because he has small children, he is in the  path of Allah Ta’ala. If he makes an effort and endeavours because he has old parents, he too,  is in the path of Allah Ta’ala. If he makes an effort to earn so that he can fulfill his necessities  without being dependant on other people, he is in the path of Allah Ta’ala. If he makes and  effort and earns so that people can see how wealthy he is and be proud on the basis of his  wealth or to show his greatness, he is on the path of Shaytaan.”

BENEFIT: In this Hadeeth, different reasons for making an effort and earning have been  discussed and after each one, its good or evil has been mentioned. Thus, one who makes  an effort and earns so that he can see to the needs of his small children or serve and take
care of his elderly parents, or even earn for himself so that he does not have to present his  needs before other people, all such reasons for earning is included in being in the path of  Allah Ta’ala. On the other hand, if a person is earning in order to attain fame for his wealth  among people, so that he can be proud among people for being a wealthy person and not  a pauper, he is in the path of Shaytaan and his abode will be Jahannum.

Therefore O traders and shopkeepers, earn the world in order to fulfill the rights of those  around you and not in order to show off your wealth before the world by thinking, “I am wealthy and I am great.”

Do not adopt pride and haughtiness before others on the basis of your actions because the net result of this is poverty and Jahannum.