Barakah is a term that means an “increase” and “growth”- and also, happiness.  It is the establishment of divine goodness in something; from whence it exudes cannot be sensed by people, nor can it be outwardly quantified, nor is it limited by anything, but rather, something with barakah in it is called Mubarak, and has an unexplainable increase and benefit in it from Allah. Allah says:

مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:261 )

Having more barakah in one’s wealth does not mean the dollar amount increases- rather, that the benefits seen from that limited amount increase, reach further and last longer. In case the person is heedless of Allah’s commands and neglects His worship, Allah deprives him of the wealth of contentment and fills the heart with materialism and greed, and robs him of tranquillity and peace of mind. Moreover, a Muslim should give great importance to daily worship. Allah says:

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ

“And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwa (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes).” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:96 )

Barakah in anything, especially wealth, which is a part of one’s destined sustenance from Allah Most High, can increase and decrease depending on the good and bad actions one does. Ensure that your line of work does not contravene the Sacred Law and that your wealth is lawful. This not only includes what work you do, but who you work for and their source of income as well. Ensure that your work is ethical and moral.

The Means of Bringing Barakah Into One’s Wealth- and Life

There are many, many different means we can take to bring barakah into our wealth, and indeed, into every aspect of our lives.  The most important thing to remember is that these are only means – worldly causes that we put forth with our human efforts- but the One who gives wealth and bestows blessings in the first place is Allah Most High.

Ways of life around the world that will make you happier:

1. Be purify your intention to earn for Allah’s sake
2. Be keep up family ties and do good to relatives
3. Be kind and charitable to the needy Muslims
4. Be thank Allah with your tongue, your heart
5. Be place your full trust in Allah Most High
6. Be thanks for what you have been given
7. Be a good intention for Allah’s sake
8. Be loyal and honest at work
9. Be generous and give gifts
10. Be spending money in Allah’s way
11. Be focused on the positive activities
12. Be always do works of good for others
13. Be a little more than what you owe people
14. We work with excellence, loyalty, and honesty
15. We ask Allah’s forgiveness often in your home
16. We ask Allah Most High to bless you with wealth
17. Be obedient, dutiful and respectful to your parents
18. We thank Allah for using His blessings for good purposes

Whatever we spend in the ways that Allah (SWT) has commanded and permitted us, He will compensate us for it in this world by giving us something else instead and in the Hereafter by giving us rewards. Allah says:

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَاقٍ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْئًا كَبِيرًا

“And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We (Allah) provide for them and for you. Indeed, the killing of them is a great sin.” (Surah Al-Isra` 17:31)

Putting trust in Allah does not mean that one should set at home aimlessly, he should engage himself in earning his livelihood through lawful means, and then leave the result to Allah. This is exactly what the birds do. They go out of their nests early in the morning in search of food and pick it from wherever they possibly can and, at the end of the day, return to their nests with their bellies full of food. They never sit in their nests waiting for their food and drinks to drop from heaven.

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:

•  “…and whosoever puts their full reliance on Allah, then He is sufficient for them.” (Quran, 65:3)
• “And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect And will provide for him from where he does not expect.” (Quran 65:2-3 At-Talaq)
• “Allâh is Sufficient for us. Allâh will give us of His bounty, and so will His Messenger (from alms, etc.). We implore Allâh (to enrich us).” (Surah Al-Tawba, Verse 59)
• “And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register.” (Quran, 11:6)
• “And no moving (living) creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (in the uterus, grave). All is in a Clear Book (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz – the Book of Decrees with Allah).” (Quran 11:6)

Allah, the highest and Exalted, wishes to provide subsistence to those weak and feeble folks and desires to do well to them. But since they are dependent on us in some ways, Allah (SWT) also provides subsistence to us in order to provide subsistence to them. Allah says:

يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ

“O Children (of) Adam! Take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink but (do) not be extravagant. Indeed, He (does) not love the extravagant ones.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:31 )

Weak and downtrodden are those that, although less privileged in material prosperity and worldly glory, are honourable to Allah, thanks to the strength of their faith and the purity of their hearts. When they pray, they pray with full sincerity for the victory of the believers. Get rid of all your expensive and forbidden habits. This may be the cost of cigarettes, the cost of a cup of Starbucks coffee every morning, or simply overspending on something that isn’t necessary. Allah says:

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ

“Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and (also) restricts (it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s Cause), He will compensate it. And He is the Best of providers.” (Surah As-Saba’ 34:39)

When a Muslim’s finances are tight, this is a test from Allah Most High.  It is mercy in disguise because through something as worldly as wealth, Allah causes us to turn towards Him in earnestness.  If a person engages himself in worshipping his Lord and in fulfilling His commands, Allah grants him contentment and exemption from wants and drives poverty and need away from him. It teaches us patience and contentment and results in forgiveness of sins and reliance on Allah. Allah says:

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ

“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favour]; but if you show ingratitude, indeed, My punishment is severe.” (Surah Ibrahim 14:7)

Hence, these actions are not mathematical formulae for the automatic increase.  One must keep Allah at the forefront of one’s seeking in this world, and make pleasing and reaching Him the ultimate goal, rather than the increase of wealth. Allah, therefore, accepts their sincere petitions and devoted supplications and grants victory to the Muslims that bring in its wake the spoils of war, which has been made the sustenance of the believers.