As humans, we try to do everything within our limits to increase sustenance whether it’s our job or business. We intend to double our means of income by striving hard. We believe that Allah has not created a single soul whose sustenance isn’t decided. He provides Rizq to everyone including Muslims, non-Muslims, animals and all creatures. That is why He is ar-Razzaq (One who gives you Rizq). The true meaning of sincerely trusting Allah is having a firm conviction that whatever comes to us, whether provisions or any other circumstances, is from Allah. Allah says:
قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
Say, “Indeed, my Lord extends the provision for whom He wills of His slaves and restricts for him. But what you spend of anything then He will compensate it and He (is the) Best (of) the Providers.” (Surah As-Saba’ 34:39)
People who migrate today are mostly looking for better work or education opportunities. Hijrah is completely different. If you leave your homes, cities, or countries in the search for a better Islamic lifestyle for your children and families, that, Insha’Allah, will be counted as ‘migration for the sake of Allah and will be rewarded with an increase in provision. Allah says:
وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا لَا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقًا نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ
“And enjoin (on) your family the prayer and be steadfast therein. Not We ask you (for) provision; We provide (for) you, and the outcome (is) for the righteous[ness].” (Surah Ta-Ha, 20:132)
At face value, it seems as if migrating from one country to another is going to eat up the savings, and, hence, result in a decrease in wealth. But Allah promises that this kind of migration is going to increase provisions. Allah says:
وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ آوَوا وَّنَصَرُوا أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا لَّهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
“And those who believed and emigrated and strove hard in (the) way (of) Allah and those who gave shelter and helped, those – they (are) the believers (in) truth. For them (is) forgiveness and a provision noble.” (Surah Al-Anfaal, 8:74)
Allah is the One who provides everything we need to live in this world. These things that we required for a living are called Rizq generally meaning Provisions. Allah provides sustenance to all of humankind, whether they are believers or non-believers, and all of His creations including animals and plants. Allah says:
وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
“And if [that] people (of) the cities (had) believed and consciously revered Allah surely We (would have) opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth but they denied. So We seized them for what they used to earn.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:96)
What is Rizq?
When we refer to Rizq, many people assume it is just money. But in actual Rizq is what benefits you. So it can be money, religion and any other material thing in this world. Rizq encloses wealth, family ties, spirituality, our faith, intellect, health and everything else that is beneficial to us and can help us to fulfil our duties and obligations to serve and obey Allah, and care for this earth. Hadith related to Rizq, narrated by Ibnu Hibban where the Prophet (SAW) said:
“A soul will not die until it gets all of the provision that has been apportioned for it”
If we analyze our lives, there is so much for which we should be grateful: the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the money we spend, etc. We not only have access to the necessities of life, but we also manage to indulge in luxuries and designer brands now and then. In His infinite mercy, Allah (SWT) doesn’t prohibit us from enjoying His provisions; all we need to do is add Barakah in it by being constantly grateful to Him.
Here are some tips to increase your wealth in a halal way:
- Seeking Forgiveness as Much as You Can
- Observing Taqwa (Fearing Allah)
- Offering and Inviting to Salah
- Performing Hajj and Umrah
- Observing Ties of Kinship
- Giving Charity (Sadaqah)
- Sadaqah(Giving Charity)
- Saying Thanks to Allah
- An-Nikah (Marriage)
- Having Children
- Reciting Surah Waqiah
- Being Honest in Dealings
- Making Duaa/ Supplication
- Gratitude and Praising Allah
- Taking Out Time for Worship
- Showing Kindness to the Poor
- Being Truthful in One’s Dealings
- Asking Your Guests to Offer Dua for You
- Treating Family/Relatives Well (Silah-Rehmi)
- Seeking Allah’s (SWT) Forgiveness (Istighfar)
Methods of Increasing Rizq in Halal Way
No doubt, we all know that Allah has already decided our sustenance/Rizq still there are some Halal ways through which we can increase our wealth. Some of them we are going to discuss in this article.
- Repentance from Sins (Tawbah): “Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance. And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers” (Quran, 71:10-12).
- Taqwa (Piety) and Obedience to Allah: “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)” (Quran 7:96).
- Keeping Ties of Kinship: We should be careful while dealing with family. Severing the family ties is most disliked by Allah. Our immediate family that is brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, parents has some rights upon us and if we want to increase our provision we must behave with them nicely.
- Giving Charity (Sadaqah): When we give charity (Sadaqah), it seems like our wealth has decreased possibly. “And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the best of providers”(Quran, 34: 39).
- Worship (Ibaadah): Don’t forget to pray Salah on time and observe the obligatory deeds no matter how much you are busy with your daily life routine. perish” (Quran, 35:29).
- Reliance upon Allah (Tawakkul): “And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, and then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things” (Surah Al-Talq, Verse 2-3).
- Making Dua: Dua is the only thing that can change our destiny and if Allah wills He may provide us more when we supplicate often. Allah loves those who offer supplications and ask Him for everything even it is a shoelace.
- Gratitude and Praising Allah: “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favour]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.‘” (Quran, 14: 7). We should always be thankful to the Almighty because everything we have in this world is just because of Him. The best way to thank Him is by saying “Alhamdulillah”.
- Being Truthful in One’s Dealings: One must be truthful in his dealings and let people know of any defects in some item. If he finds some defect, he must be honest enough to let the buyer know about it.
- Having Children: “And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We (Allah) provide for them and you. Indeed, the killing of them is a great sin” (Quran, 17:31). Don’t kill your children due to poverty as we should trust in Allah He is The Provider of all humankind.
When we give charity, it seems like our wealth has decreased apparently. But there is some hidden reward behind this and Allah promises to replace whatever we give in His way. Allah says:
قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
“Say: “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 replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” (Surah Saba` 34:39)
One should be extremely careful while dealing with their family as severing the family ties is most disliked by Allah. Our immediate family i.e. brothers, sisters, uncle, aunt, parents, etc. have some rights upon us and if we want to increase our provision we must behave with them nicely. In Surah al-Baqarah 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 likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:261)
We must remember that sustenance is something bestowed upon us from Allah. He is the only one who may provide us in abundance and if He wishes to provide us none can stop him. But for that, we must observe Istighfaar, say Alhamdulillah for even the little we have in our lives, leave the major sins, give charity as much as we can, pray on time and take out time to worship Allah.