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Fatwa CenterStruggling to become rich in Islam
Question
In Islam is it allowed to struggle to become rich? When one is too busy there is less time for prayers and for other good Islamic deeds as the mind is always thinking of making money. What business is recommended for Muslim? Please advise.
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
The Muslims are required to work and gain through Halal means collecting money to help the poor and needy, to establish beneficial projects and public services, and to support Islam in all aspects.
Allah, The Most-High, has made the means of acquiring one’s provision easy, as He Says: {He it is, Who has made the earth subservient to you (i.e. easy for you to walk, to live and to do agriculture on it, etc.), so walk in the path thereof and eat of His provision, and to Him will be the Resurrection.}[67:15].
The successful and skillful Muslim is the one who joins worship and Halal earnings; Allah Says (interpretation of meaning) about His pious servants: {In houses (mosques), which Allâh has ordered to be raised (to be cleaned, and to be honoured), in them His Name is glorified in the mornings and in the afternoons or the evenings, Men whom neither trade nor sale diverts them from the Remembrance of Allâh (with heart and tongue), nor from performing AsSalât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), nor from giving the Zakât. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (from the horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection). That Allâh may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and add even more for them out of His Grace. And Allâh provides without measure to whom He wills.}[24:36-38]. Allah further Says (interpretation of meaning): {O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salât (prayer) on the day of Friday (Jumu'ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allâh [Jumu'ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salât (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing), that is better for you if you did but know! Then when the (Jumu'ah) Salât (prayer) is finished, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allâh (by working, etc.), and remember Allâh much, that you may be successful. And when they see some merchandise or some amusement [beating of Tambur (drum) etc.] they disperse headlong to it, and leave you (Muhammad SAW) standing [while delivering Jumu'ah's religious talk (Khutbah)]. Say "That which Allâh has is better than any amusement or merchandise! And Allâh is the Best of providers."}[62:9-11].
You have to know, dear brother, that sticking to the obedience of Allah is one of the means of increasing wealth, and making the provisions (earnings) easy. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {…And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. …}[65:2-3].
A lot of our righteous predecessors joined trade and worship and achieved a great success in both, like Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, Uthman and Abdurahman bin Awf and others.
In conclusion, a Muslim has to join the two, and his objective in gaining wealth is to abstain from what is forbidden, (to save his family from such bad things), and to help the poor and support the religion of Islam. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "What an excellent and good the wealth which is for a pious person." Narrated by Ahmad with an authentic chain of narrations.
Allah knows best.
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