In the Name of Allāh.
Excellently, Islām emphasizes the importance of both ‘Ibādah (worship) and working to lawfully enjoy life, thereby teaching us that these two aspects of life are interconnected, and one should not be neglected while pursuing the other.
Allāh calls our attention to this issue saying:
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“Then when the (Jumu’ah) Ṣalāt (prayer) is finished, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allāh (by working, etc.), and remember Allāh much, that you may be successful.”
More so, in the Prophets of Allāh, we have the best examples of spirituality, hard work, and responsibility. For example, Prophet Dawūd (‘Alayhi Salām) would never eat a meal unless he earned it himself. Al-Miqdam reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
مَا أَكَلَ أَحَدٌ طَعَامًا قَطُّ خَيْرًا مِنْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدِهِ، وَإِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ كَانَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدِهِ
“Nobody has ever eaten a better meal than that which one has earned by working with one’s own hands. The Prophet (ﷺ) of Allāh, Dawūd used to eat from the earnings of his own hand’s work.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2072]
Conclusively, Muslims must appreciate the Islāmic principle of balance between worship and worldly pursuits, and how it’s important not to neglect one’s worldly responsibilities while pursuing spiritual goals.
I beseech Allāh to ease all our struggles and grant us the best of this world and the best in the Hereafter. (Aameen)
Picture Credit: Gettyimage
