18 - الرَّزَّاقُ

[ummtaalib]

الرَّزَّاقُ

 

 

Translation
 

الرَّزَّاقُ is translated as The Sustainer, The Supplier and the Provider. The One Who provides Rizq. Allah ta’ala is Raaziq (The Giver of Rizq).

 

The concept of Rizq we have is usually monetary i.e. to do with financial matters, however linguistically it means anything and everything through which some benefit, in any shape or form, is derived. It can be monetary, food, education, people (friends) etc.

 

Definition

It is that Being Who has taken responsibility for Rizq and has made provision for the Rizq for every living thing. Not just humans but all of creation. His Rizq and his Rahmah is enough for all of creation and there is no exclusion or differenciation between a Believer and nonbeliever or who is a friend or enemy of Allah ta’ala similar to Allah ta’ala being Rahmaan to everyone. Allah ta’ala grants Rizq to whoever He wants.

 

There is a verse in the Qur’an to the effect that if Allah ta’ala gives Rizq to people it does not mean that He is happy/pleased with them and if Allah ta’ala constricts or decreases Rizq from anyone it is not a sign of Allah ta’ala’s displeasure or anger. Therefore to assume (which is what a lot of us do) is wrong.

 

Allah ta’ala gives Rizq to the weak, who do not have the ability to earn or have any means, like a child, and to the healthy and strong who have the ability. There is nothing on this earth that does not receive Rizq. Allah ta’ala created all creation and gave them the means of Rizq through His Karam and Fadhl.

 

Classification of Rizq

There are two types of Rizq: 

 

1. Rizq-e-Aam – general and open ended i.e. for everyone, Believers, disbelievers, good, bad and to everything. This is called Rizq Badni (provision for the body) which is physical Rizq to every living thing. 
2. Rizq-e-Khaas – special and specific which is the provision or nourishment for the heart which is attained from ‘Ilm and Imaan. This is not materialistic. It is spiritual nourishment and Rizq Halaal is included in this as it is special to a Believer according to their level of Imaan. This Rizq helps to do deeds according to Deen. 

 

This classification is made by one Scholar and Ibn Qayyoom (Raheemahullah) also made two classifications of Rizq:

 

1. Rizq given to people in the world through His servants (i.e. Scholars and the pious) and Prophets. This is the special spiritual Rizq and the nourishment of the heart, again ‘Ilm and Imaan. 
2. The Rizq for the body – Rizq Halaal. The food which is Haraam is still Rizq and it would be wrong to say it is not Rizq but Halaal Rizq has a spiritual dimension. It has Noor and Barakah in it.

 

In the Qur’an

It is mentioned in many places in the Qur’an.

 

وَمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ

There is no moving creature on Earth whose sustenance is not provided by Allah. He knows its living and its resting place, and all that is recorded in a glorious Book. [Surah Hood: 6]

 

Allah ta’ala knows about all living creatures, where they live, whether its permanent or temporary, whether its hidden from other creatures etc. and Allah ta’ala grants Rizq.

 

In this verse Allah ta’ala is giving consolation to people that it is His responsibility to make arrangements for their Rizq as He knows where each one of His creation is living even if no one else does.

 

This is part of counsel for us that even though we take measures and use the necessary means in obtaining Rizq Halaal, at the same time we should know that it is Allah ta’ala Who is providing it. When a person has this Yaqeen then that person will do what is required and knows that this is his effort however Allah ta’ala is The One Who provides.

 

Rizq due to Barakah of others

It is mentioned in a Hadith that a man whose brother was one of the Ashaabus Suffa, came and complained to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam that his brother spent all his time with the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallm while he worked. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam replied that maybe it was due to his brother that he was getting Rizq.

 

Sometimes it is through the Barakah of those dependent upon us that Allah ta’ala is granting us the Rizq. It is often seen that on the birth of a second child when one starts thinking materialistically, that Allah ta’ala opens a door to increase in Rizq through increase in wage or a promotion or other means and Allah puts Barakah in it.

 

Therefore there are other dynamics that are at play but because we only look at the apparent i.e. we have Rizq because we are working, we do not realize that it could be because of the Barakah of those dependent upon us i.e. children, elders etc. that your work is going well or that your business is flourishing. People with understanding however, will see this. The more Yaqeen we have that Allah ta’ala is Ar-Razzaaq, the more Allah ta’ala will provide for us.

 

Story regarding Surah Hood, verse 6

Regarding the verse cited above, Imam Qurtubi (Rahimahullah) narrates that there was a tribe who migrated to Madeenah and by the time they reached the outskirts they had run out of provisions. A man was sent to request the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam for some food. When the man reached the door of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam he heard from within this verse being recited and he thought that when Allah ta’ala had taken responsibility to provide for all living things then his tribe was no less than the animals. He became convinced that Allah ta’ala will provide and without meeting the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, he returned to his people and told them to be happy as Allah ta’ala’s help was on its way. He did not relate what had happened and they thought he had made the arrangements.

 

Soon two men came with two pots filled with bread and meat and everyone ate to their fill with some leftover. They decided to return it to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam who, when he was thanked and told about the leftover, said he had not sent any food. When the whole episode was related to him, he said that that Rizq was something that Allah ta’ala had granted them.

 

This episode shows that when someone has Yaqeen that Allah ta’ala will provide for me then Allah ta’ala will provide. Allah ta’ala can give Rizq in any way, with or without the means and from places we cannot even imagine however we are supposed to use the means but not forget Who was the Controller of the means.

 

Asbaab (Means)

A question was raised in the chat box regarding using Asbaab and how this tribe did not use any Asbaab. Someone else replied that they had used Asbaab by sending a man to request the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam for food and the help came through in the form of the verse of the Qur’an. Thereafter Aapa Sobia mentioned some points regarding Asbaab.

 

The Imaan and Tawakkul of the Sahaba RA was stronger and it was enough for them whereas in our age it is not that strong and we have to use the Asbaab (though even today if a person had trust in Allah ta’ala, He will give and so it can happen) but the key is knowing that Allah ta’ala is giving.

 

Sabab (Means) is a very comprehensive word however we limit it. It is not just the means as we understand it. As highlighted above, Allah ta’ala can provide without any means however many things can become the means of Allah ta’ala sending Rizq:

 

·    • Du’a can become a means and we should make Du’a for Halaal Rizq and for Barakah in the Rizq

·    • Doing good deeds can become a means

·    • Giving Sadaqah can become a means. It comes in Hadith that when a person gives, Allah ta’ala gives them more and when he stops, Allah ta’ala will also stop

·    • Generosity can become a means.  “Spend in charity and do not keep count for then Allah will also keep count in giving you provision.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

 

Tawakkul is putting effort and then trusting in Allah ta’ala. It does not mean leaving the Asbaab. We have to use the Asbaab and we have to strive as Allah ta’ala says in many places of the Qur’an that humans will not get anything except for what he strives for.

 

وَأَنْ لَيْسَ لِلْإِنْسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ - that there shall be nothing for a man except what he strive for [Surah Najm: 39]

 

Therefore to realize that the result is not due to your striving but that Allah ta’ala is in charge and its due to His Rahmah and His being Razzaaq that He is giving you.

 

Taqwa & Rizq

 

In Surah Talaq at the end of verse 2, Allah ta’ala says,

 

وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا - And whosoever keepeth his duty to Allah, Allah will appoint a way out for him

 

And in the beginning of the next verse Allah ta’ala says,

 

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ - And will provide for him from (a quarter) whence he hath no expectation

 

This shows that if a person has Taqwa then Allah ta’ala will create means of his Rizq and there are different levels of Taqwa so accordingly Allah ta’ala will create a way out for the person in any difficulty. Rizq is not just food and finances as mentioned before but it can be spiritual, social, emotional etc. Therefore from our side we have to work on attaining Taqwa and when we make a mistake due to our weakness, we should repent.

 

Levels of Taqwa:

·   • To safeguard the heart and the body from Haraam. This leads to a soul that is alive.

·   • To also avoid the Makroohaat. This leads to a soul being healthy and strong.

·   • To avoid anything that is useless, a waste of time or without any purpose. This leads to a happy and content soul.

 

Episode regarding Abu Umama RA related by Jaabir RA in “Anecdotes of the Awliya”

 

Abu Umama RA had a Christian slave woman and she related that he never sent a beggar away empty handed. One day he had three Dinaar left which he gave away to three beggars as each one came begging. The slave woman became angry saying he had not left anything for them but he went to rest. As he was fasting she felt sorry and she decided to borrow money to prepare some food. After the food was prepared and a candle was lit she went to get something and found 300 Dinaar and she thought to herself that no wonder he had been so generous.

 

When he awoke and saw the food he smiled and said that it was from Allah ta’ala. She said, “May Allah have mercy on you. You had so much money and you did not tell me. I could have put it away in a safe place.” At this he asked, “What money?” She showed him and he said he did not know about it. She was so affected she accepted Islam and Jaabir RA narrated that he saw her teaching in a Masjid in Shaam.

 

So from being a Christian slave to teaching Deen in a Masjid, SubhanAllah! This episode shows that when a person is generous and gives Sadaqah, that also becomes a means through which Allah ta’ala grants them. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam has promised that Sadaqah never decreases wealth.

“Sadaqah does not in any way decrease the wealth.” [Muslim]

 

Therefore never fear poverty when giving Sadaqah as Allah ta’ala will provide for you. When we help others, Allah ta’ala will help us.

 

Allah ta’ala is The Haqeeqee Raaziq

 

Allah ta’ala says in Surah Mulk, verse 2:

 

أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا الَّذِي يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُ ۚ بَلْ لَجُّوا فِي عُتُوٍّ وَنُفُورٍ

Or who is there that can provide you if He withholds His provision? Yet, they persist in rebellion and aversion from the truth.

 

It is Allah ta’ala Who gives and to think that any one else is giving is actually wickedness in Islam and far from the truth.

 

In Surah Zumar, verse 52 (and many other similar verses in the Qur’an), Allah ta’ala says,

 

أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Do they not know that Allah enlarges the provision for whom He pleases and restricts it from whom He wills? Surely there are signs in this for those who believe.

 

Allah ta’ala is The One Who gives, to some more than others but it is He Who gives.

 

Counsel

We are people of little Tawakkul and we need to use the Asbaab and leave the rest to Allah ta’ala and this is the beauty of it. Sometimes people use Haraam Asbaab as it seems easy money i.e. interest dealings, and it takes a lot of Tawakkul to refrain i.e. to trust in Allah that He will provide.

 

Barakah in Rizq

To increase the Rizq, we need to have Barakah in it because Allah ta’ala has already distributed whatever Rizq we are supposed to get before we were born and we cannot increase in what was written for us. To increase the Barakah in the Rizq:

 

·    • Use Asbaab and do not trust in them. Trust Allah ta’ala and this is true Tawakkul that Allah ta’ala is Razzaaq.

 ·   • Not to use Haraam Asbaab and for this also you need Tawakkul as it is easy and quick money and you think everybody does it. No lying, cheating using the tricks of the trade etc.

·   • Stay away from sin, minor or major, sins of the eyes, tongue etc.

·   • Istighfaar brings Barakah in Rizq. 

·   • Give Zakat in full and do not avoid it. 

·   • Being good to those you give a salary to and not cheat them. 

·   • Good deeds bring Barakah in Rizq. 

·   • Do not be miserly. Give Sadaqah and the best Sadaqah is when you are low in money. 

·   • Suhbat – good company brings Barakah in Rizq and as mentioned before Rizq is not just financial but its spiritual as well where a person is happy and at peace. A person may have a lot of wealth but no Sukoon. Sometimes a little has a lot of Barakah in it and brings peace and happiness. Therefore when you make Du’a don’t just ask for Rizq but ask for Rizq Halaal/Tayyib and for Barakah in it.

 

Du’a in Hadith and Narrations of the Salaf Saaliheen

 

Recite 3 times after Fajr:

 

 اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا وَعَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً 

O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision and acceptable deeds.

 

Scholar’s Reference, not Hadith:

Recite after Fajr:

 

اللَّهُ لَطِيفٌ بِعِبَادِهِ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۖ وَهُوَ الْقَوِيُّ الْعَزِيزُ

Allah is very Kind to His servants. He gives sustenance to whom He pleases. He is the Powerful, the Almighty. [Surah Shura: 19]