Islam is a religion of equality and fairness—it condemns ruthless, deceptive business tactics that exploit others, while rewarding those who earn wealth through disciplined, halal action.
Allah alone decrees who will attain true success, but many misuse this truth as an excuse to shirk hard work and personal responsibility. This is not a wholesome attitude. The Prophet ﷺ highlighted the virtue of self-reliance through the example of Prophet Dawud (David), stating: “The Prophet David used not to eat except from the earnings of his manual labor.”
By the end of this guide, you will learn powerful duas for rizq (sustenance), adopt a healthy halal perspective on money, and grasp the importance of self-reliance in Islamic teachings.
Duas for Rizq (Sustenance)
1. Dua Recited by the Prophet ﷺ During Fajr Prayer
- Transliteration: Allaahumma innee assaluka ilman nafia, wa rizzqan tayyeebun, wa amalan mutaqabilan.
- Translation: “O Allaah, indeed I ask You for beneficial knowledge, a good halal provision, and actions which are accepted.”
2. Dua for Worldly and Hereafter Blessings
Narrated Anas: His mother asked the Prophet ﷺ to invoke Allah on her behalf, and he responded with this supplication—also a verse from Surah Al-Baqarah:
- Transliteration: Rabbanaaa aatina fid dunyaa hasanatawn wa fil aakhirati hasanatanw wa qinaa azaaban Naar
- Translation: “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
Developing a Healthy Relationship With Money
In Islam, our relationship with money revolves around three core principles: how we earn it, how we perceive it, and how we spend it.
1. How to Earn Wealth Halally
Desiring wealth is not sinful—what matters is that it is acquired through lawful (halal) and fair means. Profit-making is permitted, but transactions must be transparent and just. Allah warns against cheating for trivial gains, as it carries severe consequences on the Day of Judgement:
“Indeed, those who exchange the covenant of Allah and their [own] oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter, and Allah will not speak to them or look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them; and they will have a painful punishment.” (Quran 3:77)
The Prophet ﷺ emphasized leniency and honesty in business dealings:
- “May Allah’s mercy be on him who is lenient in his buying, selling, and in demanding back his money.”
- “The seller and the buyer have the right to keep or return goods as long as they have not parted. If both speak the truth and describe the defects and qualities of the goods, they will be blessed in their transaction; but if they lie or hide something, the blessings of their transaction will be lost.”
2. How to Perceive Wealth
The danger arises when the pursuit of money takes precedence over faith. The love of wealth as an end in itself—along with the obsession with material pleasure—is haram (forbidden) and a grave sin. Allah reminds us of the fleeting nature of worldly life:
“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children – like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.” (Quran 57:20)
Wealth often fuels arrogance, making people forget that Allah is the true Provider. Allah despises pride and boasting:
“And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.” (Quran 31:38)
It is vital to distinguish between healthy self-respect (a sign of maturity, rooted in gratitude) and arrogance (a sign of immaturity, rooted in seeking praise). The latter is a sin, while the former aligns with Islamic humility.
3. How to Spend Wealth Righteously
True success in wealth lies in how we use it to please Allah. Giving zakat (obligatory charity) and sadaqah (voluntary charity) is among the most rewarded acts of worship:
- The Prophet ﷺ said: “The upper hand is better than the lower one (i.e., the spending hand is better than the receiving hand). Begin charity with those under your care, and the best charity is that given out of surplus. He who asks Allah to help him abstain from the unlawful will have his wish fulfilled, and he who seeks self-sufficiency will be made self-sufficient by Allah.”
- He also taught: “A man’s spending on his family is a deed of charity.”
Charity does not require great wealth—even small acts of kindness qualify as sadaqah. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity; commanding good and forbidding evil is charity; giving directions to a lost person is charity; helping someone with bad sight is charity; removing a rock, thorn, or bone from the road is charity; and pouring what remains from your bucket into your brother’s bucket is charity.”
The Importance of Self-Reliance
Allah says: “Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” (Quran 13:11)
This verse teaches a profound truth: if you want your circumstances to improve, you must first improve yourself. Allah will guide and provide, but you must take proactive action. Achievements earned through hard work bring deeper, lasting fulfillment than unearned gifts—happiness stems from the journey of overcoming adversity, not just reaching the goal (which is why many lottery winners report feeling unhappier over time).
The Prophet ﷺ dignified work and self-reliance with his teachings:
- “Nobody has ever eaten a better meal than that which one has earned by working with one’s own hands.”
- “No doubt, it is better for any one of you to cut a bundle of wood and carry it over his back rather than to ask someone who may or may not give him.”
- “One would rather take a rope, cut wood, and carry it than ask others [for help].”
Conclusion
“If you are grateful, I would certainly give to you more.” (Quran 14:7)
Let us be grateful to Allah (SWT) for the blessings He has bestowed—most of us are far wealthier than we acknowledge. True prosperity is not measured by hoarded wealth, but by earning halally, spending generously, and remaining humble and self-reliant.
A thought-provoking exercise: Would you trade places with a billionaire like Warren Buffett, who is among the world’s richest but in his late 80s? It reminds us that wealth without time or gratitude is incomplete.
May Allah grant us halal rizq and prosperity to support ourselves and others. If this guide has benefited you, spread barakah by sharing it with fellow believers.
About the Author
