What Should I Do for Allah To Bless My Time and Sustenance?
Answered By Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Question
What should I do for Allah to bless my time and sustenance?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his Family, and his Companions.
Muslims cannot do without blessings in their life, which is why they are required to seek out and understand the means and principles that lead to obtaining blessings. This is because blessings are the path to achieving goals and increasing goodness.
The Concept of Blessing
Linguistically, the term “blessing” revolves around the meanings of stability, increase, growth, and happiness.
Technically, Raghib defined blessings as the stability of divine goodness in something. Allah (Most High) says:
“Had the people of those societies been faithful and mindful (of Allah), We would have overwhelmed them with blessings from heaven and earth.” [Quran, 7:96]
The term is used because the goodness within it remains as water remains in a pond. The blessed is that in which divine goodness is present. [Raghib, Mufradat Alfaz al-Quran]
Kafawi described blessings as “growth and increase, whether tangible or intangible, and the stability of divine goodness in something and its continuity.” [Kafawi, al-Kulliyat]
When reflecting on these meanings, one finds a connection between them. The technical meaning refers to the stability of divine goodness in something, which relates to the linguistic meaning of stability, firmness, and happiness on one hand, and growth and increase associated with steadfastness in religion on the other, leading to happiness in this world and an abundance of reward in the hereafter.
The Quran and Sunna have pointed to reasons through which blessings can be sought from Allah (Most High). Among these reasons are:
Fear of Allah (Most High) and Reliance on Him
Allah (Most High) says:
“And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for them, and provide for them from sources they could never imagine. And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He (alone) is sufficient for them.” [Quran, 65:2-3]
Seeking Forgiveness and Abandoning Persistence in Sin
Allah (Most High) says:
“…saying, ‘Seek your Lord’s forgiveness, (for) He is truly Most Forgiving. He will shower you with abundant rain, supply you with wealth and children, and give you gardens as well as rivers.’” [Quran, 71:10-12]
He (Most High) also says:
“And seek your Lord’s forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance. He will grant you a good provision for an appointed term and graciously reward the doers of good.” [Quran, 11:3]
Praying for Blessings
One of the shortest paths to obtaining blessings is through praying to Allah (Most High) for them. If Allah answers such a prayer, the person will receive blessings in abundance. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) would often give blessings to those he loved.
For example, Anas (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the son of Abu Talha from Umm Sulaym passed away. She said to her family:
“Do not inform Abu Talha about his son until I tell him myself.” Abu Talha returned, and she served him dinner, which he ate and drank. She then beautified herself as she had never done before, and they were intimate. Afterward, she said, “O Abu Talha, if some people had lent something to a family and then asked for it back, would they have the right to refuse?” He said, “No.” She then said, “Seek reward for the loss of your son.”
He became angry and said, “You left me uninformed until I stained myself (with sexual intercourse) and then you told me about my son.” He went to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) and told him what happened. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “May Allah bless your night together.” He (the narrator) said: She conceived… [Bukhari; Muslim]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) also taught us to pray for blessings for the newlyweds by saying: “May Allah bless you, and may He shower His blessings upon you, and unite you both in goodness.” [Ibn Hibban; Hakim; Nasa’i; Abu Dawud; Tirmidhi]
Similarly, he taught us to pray for those who feed us: “O Allah, bless them in what You have provided them, forgive them, and have mercy upon them.” [Muslim; Ibn Hibban; Abu Dawud]
Seeking Lawful Provision
If a Muslim seeks blessings in their wealth, health, and children, they must strive to earn through lawful means, avoiding anything prohibited or doubtful. They should be honest, trustworthy, and chaste and refrain from engaging in usury, fraud, or any similar forbidden activities that involve taking people’s wealth unjustly.
If one adheres to Allah’s guidance, blessings will be bestowed upon their earnings, sustenance, and entire life.
Allah (Most High) says about usury and how it removes blessings:
“Allah has made interest fruitless and charity fruitful.” [Quran, 2:276]
Abundant Remembrance and Gratitude
Allah (Most High) says:
“And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.’” [Quran, 14:7]
This increase applies to everything, whether wealth, health, lifespan, or any of Allah’s countless blessings. Allah (Most High) also says:
“And Allah will reward those who are grateful.” [Quran, 3:144]
Charity and Spending (Obligatory and Voluntary)
Charity brings blessings to one’s wealth and increases it, with good deeds rewarded tenfold. Allah (Most High) says:
“The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies (the reward even more) to whoever He wills. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.” [Quran, 2:261]
In a sacred narration (al-Hadith al-Qudsi), Allah says: “O son of Adam, spend, and I will spend on you.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Righteousness and Maintaining Ties of Kinship
Righteousness towards parents and maintaining ties of kinship are among the means that bring blessings, as the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Righteousness, good character, and good neighborliness build up dwellings and increase lifespans.” [Ahmad; Abu Ya‘la]
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Whoever loves that his provision be increased and his lifespan extended, let him maintain his ties of kinship.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
The meaning of “his lifespan extended” is that he will be blessed in his life, guided to perform acts of obedience, and will fill his time with what benefits him in the Hereafter. [Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari]
Honesty in Transactions
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“The buyer and the seller have the option (to cancel the transaction) as long as they have not separated. If they were truthful and clear (in the transaction), they will be blessed in their sale, but if they lied or concealed (something), the blessings of their transaction will be erased.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Proper Time Management and Seizing Opportunities
Time is the most valuable asset of a Muslim, and the responsibilities in this life can overwhelm one’s time and consume one’s lifespan. Therefore, taking the initiative to manage and utilize time efficiently is a significant obligation. Since a Muslim’s duties cannot be fulfilled without this, and what is necessary to fulfill an obligation is itself an obligation, time management becomes essential.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) prayed for his Umma to be blessed in the early hours of the day because starting early is an initiative to make the most of time and organize it well.
Sakhr Ibn Wada‘a al-Ghamidi (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“O Allah, bless my Umma in their early mornings.” When he dispatched a troop or an army, he would send them at the beginning of the day. Sakhr was a merchant and would send out his trade goods at the start of the day, so his wealth increased abundantly. [Ibn Hibban; Nasa’i; Abu Dawud; Tirmidhi; Darimi; Ibn Majah]
Generosity, Kindness, and Mutual Support
Allah (Most High) says:
“And whatever you spend in charity, He will compensate (you) for it. For He is the Best Provider.” [Quran, 34:39]
Allah (Most High) also says:
“The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies (the reward even more) to whoever He wills. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.” [Quran, 2:261]
‘Umar Ibn al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Eat together and do not eat separately, for the blessing is in the gathering.” [Ibn Majah; Bazzar]
We ask the Generous Lord to bless our deeds, our lives, our children, and all our affairs. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, All-Responsive. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad, born in Damascus, Syria, in 1965, pursued his Islamic studies in the mosques and institutes of Damascus. A graduate of the Islamic University of Medina in 1985, he holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Bahauddin Zakariya University in Pakistan.
He has extensive experience developing curricula and enhancing the teaching of various academic courses, including conducting intensive courses. Shaykh Awad has taught Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Quranic sciences, the history of legislation, inheritance laws, and more at several institutes and universities such as Al-Furqan Institute for Islamic Sciences and Majma‘ al-Fath al-Islami in Damascus.
He is a lecturer at the Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih Waqf University in Istanbul, teaching various Arabic and Islamic subjects, and teaches at numerous Islamic institutes in Istanbul. Shaykh Awad is a member of the Association of Syrian Scholars, a founding member of the Zayd bin Thabit Foundation, a member of the Syrian Scholars Association, and a member of the Academic Council at the Iman Center for Teaching the Sunna and Quran.
Among his teachers from whom he received Ijazat are his father, Shaykh Muhammad Muhiyiddin Awad, Shaykh Muhiyiddin al-Kurdi, Shaykh Muhammad Karim Rajih, Shaykh Usama al-Rifai, Shaykh Ayman Suwaid, Shaykh Ahmad al-Qalash, Shaykh Muhammad Awwama, and Shaykh Mamduh Junayd.
