Repentance from unlawful earnings and the concept of sustenance in Islam
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This is a message received from Germany from someone whose name is "Your Repentant Brother." He says: Honorable Shaykh, I worked abroad in several fields that Islam has forbidden, and I acquired a great deal of money as a result. Allah has accepted my repentance from the forbidden matters two years ago, and I abandoned all forbidden work. I tried to look for lawful work, and, praise be to Allah, I have gotten rid of this forbidden money. However, to my great regret, I did not learn anything in other fields of work. The question remains: What is the concept of rizq (provision) in Islam? If this period is a test and trial for me, what are the signs that bring good news and relief, if Allah wills? May Allah reward you with good. And will my repentance be accepted?
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Seeking lawful sustenance from Allah the Exalted is commanded. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-'Ankabut 29:17] [Al-Jumu'ah 62:10] [Al-Baqarah 2:198] Seeking the sustenance that keeps a person chaste and makes him independent of people, and also enables him to spend on those whose maintenance is his obligation, is an obligatory duty for a person. He must not neglect the means and abandon the seeking of sustenance as long as he is able to do so. As for what has occurred regarding taking money by unjust means and earning through forbidden ways, then if Allah has accepted your repentance—praise be to Allah—this is a blessing and good news. You should thank Allah the Exalted and ask Him for steadfastness in repentance, and ask Allah for lawful sustenance, and strive to seek lawful sustenance. [At-Talaq 65:2-3] The fact that you felt the weight of your sin, repented to Allah, regretted it, and disposed of the money are signs indicating goodness. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you and bless you.
This is a message received from Germany from someone whose name is "Your Repentant Brother." He says: Honorable Shaykh, I worked abroad in several fields that Islam has forbidden, and I acquired a great deal of money as a result. Allah has accepted my repentance from the forbidden matters two years ago, and I abandoned all forbidden work. I tried to look for lawful work, and, praise be to Allah, I have gotten rid of this forbidden money. However, to my great regret, I did not learn anything in other fields of work. The question remains: What is the concept of rizq (provision) in Islam? If this period is a test and trial for me, what are the signs that bring good news and relief, if Allah wills? May Allah reward you with good. And will my repentance be accepted?
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Seeking lawful sustenance from Allah the Exalted is commanded. Allah the Exalted said:
So seek from Allah provision and worship Him
فَابْتَغُوا عِندَ اللَّهِ الرِّزْقَ وَاعْبُدُوهُAnd when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِThere is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord
لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُوا فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْAnd whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (3) And will provide for him from where he does not expect.
وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُThe presenter:
May Allah reward you and bless you.
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 03/151 — archive.org (1:01)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.