In this article, we will clarify in the light of Quranic texts, authentic hadiths, and the practices of the pious predecessors that the Provider of sustenance is only Allah, He alone holds the keys to the treasures, and therefore it is obligatory upon the servant to seek sustenance only through lawful means. The article will present in detail the connection of sustenance with the belief in Tawheed, the legitimacy of earning a livelihood, the virtue of earning with one’s own hands, and fundamental answers to “Why lawful sustenance”; along with shedding light on the harms of unlawful earnings.
Belief in Sustenance: The Provider is Only Allah
◈ The first foundation is that Allah alone is “Ar-Razzaq” (The Provider); no one else has the authority to provide sustenance.
﴿مَآ اُرِیْدُ مِنْہُمْ مِّنْ رِّزْقٍ وَّمَآ اُرِیْدُ اَنْ یُّطْعِمُوْنِ٭ اِِنَّ اللّٰہَ ہُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّۃِ الْمَتِیْنُ ﴾
“I do not ask them for provision, nor do I ask that they feed Me. Indeed, Allah is the Provider, the Powerful, the Exalted in Might.”
﴿ وَمَا مِن دَآبَّۃٍ فِیْ الأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَی اللّٰہِ رِزْقُہَا ﴾ [ ہود : ۶]
“There is no living creature on earth whose provision is not upon Allah.”
﴿وَفِیْ السَّمَائِ رِزْقُکُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ ﴾ [ الذایات : ۲۲]
’’Your provision is in the heaven, and it is also that which is promised to you.’’
﴿ اَللّٰہُ الَّذِیْ خَلَقَکُمْ ثُمَّ رَزَقَکُمْ ثُمَّ یُمِیْتُکُمْ ثُمَّ یُحْیِیْکُمْ ہَلْ مِن شُرَکَائِکُم مَّن یَفْعَلُ مِن ذَلِکُم مِّن شَیْْئٍ سُبْحَانَہُ وَتَعَالَی عَمَّا یُشْرِکُونَ ﴾ [ الروم : ۴۰]
“Allah is the One who created you, then provided for you, then He will cause you to die, and then He will give you life again. Is there any among your partners who can do any of these? He is pure and exalted above what they associate with Him.”
Conclusion: All authority over provision belongs solely to Allah; reliance and asking must be directed to Him alone.
The Keys to the Treasures are with Allah
﴿وَإِن مِّن شَیْْئٍ إِلَّا عِندَنَا خَزَائِنُہُ وَمَا نُنَزِّلُہُ إِلَّا بِقَدَرٍ مَّعْلُومٍ ﴾ [ الحجر : ۲۱]
’’There is nothing whose treasures are not with Us. And We send it down in a known measure.’’
Therefore, ask for provision only from Allah; asking provision from others besides Allah is false:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِِ اللّٰہِ لَا یَمْلِکُونَ لَکُمْ رِزْقاً فَابْتَغُوا عِندَ اللّٰہِ الرِّزْقَ وَاعْبُدُوہُ وَاشْکُرُوا لَہُ إِلَیْْہِ تُرْجَعُونَ ﴾ [العنکبوت : ۱۷]
“Indeed, those whom you worship besides Allah are not owners of provision for you. So ask Allah alone for provision, and worship Him alone, and give thanks to Him. To Him you will all return.”
Struggle for Sustenance: Day for Livelihood
◈ Allah made the day for livelihood and the night for rest:
﴿وَّجَعَلْنَا الَّیْلَ لِبَاسًا ٭ وَّجَعَلْنَا النَّہَارَ مَعَاشًا ﴾
“And We made the night as a covering, and the day for livelihood.”
﴿ وَ مِنْ رَّحْمَتِہٖ جَعَلَ لَکُمُ الَّیْلَ وَ النَّھَارَ لِتَسْکُنُوْا فِیْہِ وَ لِتَبْتَغُوْا مِنْ فَضْلِہٖ وَ لَعَلَّکُمْ تَشْکُرُوْنَ﴾
“And out of His mercy He made for you the night and the day, that you may rest therein and seek of His bounty (i.e., sustenance) and that you may be grateful.”
◈ The earth was made subservient so that man may seek lawful sustenance:
﴿ ہُوَ الَّذِیْ جَعَلَ لَکُمُ الْاَرْضَ ذَلُوْلًا فَامْشُوْا فِیْ مَنَاکِبِہَا وَکُلُوْا مِنْ رِّزْقِہٖ وَاِِلَیْہِ النُّشُوْرُ﴾ [الملک: 15 ]
“He it is Who made the earth subservient to you, so walk in its paths and eat of His provision, and to Him will be the resurrection.”
﴿فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴾ [الجمعۃ: 10]
“So when the prayer is ended, disperse in the land and seek of Allah’s bounty (i.e., sustenance), and remember Allah much that you may succeed.”
The Virtue of Earning by One’s Own Hands
“مَا أَكَلَ أَحَدٌ طَعَامًا قَطُّ خَيْرًا مِنْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدِهِ، وَإِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ كَانَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدِهِ.” [البخاری: ۲۰۷۲]
“No person has ever eaten food better than that which he earns with his own hands. And indeed, the Prophet of Allah, Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him), used to eat from his own handiwork.”
( إِنَّ أَطْیَبَ مَا أَکَلْتُمْ مِّنْ کَسْبِکُمْ )
“Indeed, the purest food for you is that which you eat from your own earnings.”
“لَأَنْ يَحْتَطِبَ أَحَدُكُمْ حُزْمَةً عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ أَحَدًا فَيُعْطِيَهُ أَوْ يَمْنَعَهُ.” [البخاری: ۲۰۷۴]
“For any one of you to carry a bundle of wood on his back and bring it (and earn a living through hard work) is better for him than to beg from someone — whether he gives or refuses.”
Thought point: It is better to work hard than to ask and extend the hand for alms, and earning through lawful means is the path to dignity and acceptance.
“Why only lawful sustenance?” — Quranic Guidance
◈ General Command:
﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلُوا مِمَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴾ [البقرۃ: 168]
“O people! Eat lawful and pure things from what is on earth, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan, surely he is your open enemy.”
◈ Special Address to the Believers:
﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ ﴾ [البقرۃ: 172]
“O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.”
Conclusion: Only “Halal” (earned through lawful means) and “Tayyib” (pure) are permissible to consume; items earned through unlawful means are forbidden.
Era of Trials: Indifference to Halal and Haram
( لَیَأْتِیَنَّ عَلَی النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لَا یُبَالِی الْمَرْئُ بِمَا أَخَذَ الْمَالَ ، أَمِنْ حَلَالٍ أَمْ مِّنْ حَرَامٍ) [البخاری: ۲۰۵۹، ۲۰۸۳]
“A time will surely come upon the people when a person will not care where his wealth is coming from — whether from halal or haram.”
Today, this prophecy is commonly evident; therefore, warning and teaching about halal is indispensable.
The Need for Halal Sustenance: Additional Reasons and Evidence
1 Accountability in the Hereafter — Where was the wealth earned from and where was it spent?
It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
(لَا تَزُوْلُ قَدَمَا ابْنِ آدَمَ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبّہٖ حَتّٰی یُسْأَلَ عَنْ خَمْسٍ : عَنْ عُمُرِہٖ فِیْمَ أَفْنَاہُ ، وَعَنْ شَبَابِہٖ فِیْمَ أَبْلاہُ ، وَ مَالِہٖ مِنْ أَیْنَ اکْتَسَبَہُ وَفِیْمَ أَنْفَقَہُ ، وَ مَاذَا عَمِلَ فِیْمَا عَلِمَ )
[On the Day of Judgment, a person’s feet will not move away from before his Lord until he is asked about five things: his life — how he spent it; his youth — how he used it; his wealth — where he earned it from and where he spent it; and what he did with his knowledge.]
This hadith makes clear that both the source of earning and the place of spending are accountable before Allah.
2 Unlawful earnings hinder the acceptance of prayers
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
( یَا أَیُّہَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّ اللّٰہَ طَیِّبٌ وَلاَ یَقْبَلُ إِلَّا طَیِّبًا)
“O people! Indeed, Allah is Pure and only accepts that which is pure (in things and deeds).”
Then he gave the example of a traveler who, in a state of hardship during travel, raises his hands in supplication while “his food, drink, and clothing are from unlawful sources” and “his body is nourished by unlawful means”—how can such a person’s supplication be accepted!
Earning through Unlawful Means is a Serious Crime
Eating Wealth through False Means is Forbidden
﴿ یٰٓأَیُّھَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَاْکُلُوْٓا اَمْوَالَکُمْ بَیْنَکُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ اِلَّآ اَنْ تَکُوْنَ تِجَارَۃً عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِّنْکُمْ﴾
“O you who have believed! Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly (through unlawful means), except through mutual consent in trade.”
﴿ وَ لَا تَاْکُلُوْٓا اَمْوَالَکُمْ بَیْنَکُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَ تُدْلُوْا بِھَآ اِلَی الْحُکَّامِ لِتَاْکُلُوْا فَرِیْقًا مِّنْ اَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالْاِثْمِ وَ اَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ﴾
“And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it (in bribery or false testimony) to the rulers in order that you may knowingly consume a portion of the wealth of others sinfully.”
Under these verses, every unlawful method—stealing, usurpation, deceit and fraud, robbery, usury, breach of trust, gambling, and forbidden trade—all are included. Especially, securing decisions in one’s favor through bribery is a grave sin.
Prominent Forms of Illicit Earnings
① Stealing
﴿ وَالسَّارِقُ وَالسَّارِقَةُ فَاقْطَعُوا أَيْدِيَهُمَا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَسَبَا نَكَالًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴾[ المائدۃ : ۳۸]
“And the male thief and the female thief—cut off their hands as a recompense for what they committed, an exemplary punishment from Allah. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
The severity of the punishment indicates how great the sanctity of others’ property is. Even stealing minor items is theft:
“لَعَنَ اللَّهُ السَّارِقَ، يَسْرِقُ الْبَيْضَةَ فَتُقْطَعُ يَدُهُ، وَيَسْرِقُ الْحَبْلَ فَتُقْطَعُ يَدُهُ.”
“May Allah curse the thief, whether he steals an egg and his hand is cut off, or he steals a rope and his hand is cut off.”
② Robbery
Robbery and armed looting are “corruption in the land,” and the Quran has stated its punishment:
﴿ إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَنْ يُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوا أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُمْ مِنْ خِلَافٍ أَوْ يُنْفَوْا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لَهُمْ خِزْيٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴾ [ المائدۃ : ۳۳]
“Those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to spread corruption in the land, the punishment for them is that they be killed or crucified, or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides, or that they be exiled from the land. That is a disgrace for them in this world, and in the Hereafter, they will have a great punishment.”
③ Gambling and earning livelihood through casting lots
﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴾
“O you who have believed! Intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.”
Al-Maysir includes all forms where equal amounts are staked but some win and some do not—prize bonds, raffle coupons, certain insurance forms, number lotteries, etc.—all these fall under the category of gambling.
④ Usurious transactions
Explicit command to the believers:
﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٢٧٨﴾ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَإِنْ تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٧٩﴾ ﴾ [البقرۃ : ۲۷۸۔۲۷۹]
“O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal – [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.”
In the historical context of usury, the continuous increase on the principal was the worst injustice; Islam declared it absolutely forbidden:
﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا أَضْعَافًا مُّضَاعَفَةً ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴾ [ آل عمران : ۱۳۰ ]
“O you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful.”
The abomination of usury in the Hadith
(اَلرِّبَا سَبْعُونَ حُوبًا، أَيْسَرُهُمَا أَنْ يَنْكِحَ الرَّجُلُ أُمَّهُ) [ ابن ماجہ : ۲۲۷۴]
“Usury has seventy (70) sins, the lightest of which is that a person commits adultery with his own mother.”
(اَلرِّبَا اِثْنَانِ وَسَبْعُونَ بَابًا، أَدْنَاهَا مِثْلُ أَنْ يَنْكِحَ الرَّجُلُ أُمَّهُ) [ الطبرانی… صحیح الجامع: ۳۵۳۷ ]
“Usury has seventy-two (72) degrees, and its lightest degree is like a man committing adultery with his own mother.”
(دِرْهَمُ رِبًا يَأْكُلُهُ الرَّجُلُ، وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُ، أَشَدُّ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ سِتٍّ وَثَلَاثِينَ زَنْيَةً) [ السلسلۃ الصحیحۃ : ۱۰۳۳ ]
“Whoever knowingly consumes one dirham of usury, it is more severe in the sight of Allah than committing adultery thirty-six (36) times.”
(لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ آكِلَ الرِّبَا، وَمُوكِلَهُ، وَكَاتِبَهُ، وَشَاهِدَيْهِ، وَقَالَ: هُمْ سَوَاءٌ) [ مسلم : ۱۵۹۸ ]
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed the one who consumes usury, the one who gives it, the one who records it, and the witnesses to it, and said: All of them are equal in sin.”
Wealth Does Not Increase, It Decreases
﴿ وَمَا آتَيْتُمْ مِنْ رِبًا لِيَرْبُوَا فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُو عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا آتَيْتُمْ مِنْ زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُضْعِفُونَ ﴾ [ الروم : ۳۹ ]
“And whatever you give in usury to increase in the wealth of people, it does not increase with Allah. But whatever you give in charity seeking the pleasure of Allah, it is those who multiply their reward manifold with Allah.”
﴿ يَمْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ ﴾
“Allah destroys usury (removes its blessing), and increases charity (blesses it), and Allah does not like any ungrateful sinner.”
(مَا أَحَدٌ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِلَّا كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ أَمْرِهِ إِلَى قِلَّةٍ) [ ابن ماجہ : ۲۲۷۹]
“Whoever earns more in usury, his end will ultimately be loss and destruction.”
The State on the Day of Judgment
﴿ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا ۗ وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا ۚ فَمَنْ جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ فَانْتَهَىٰ فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ ﴾[البقرۃ: 275]
“Those who consume interest will stand on the Day of Resurrection like the one whom Satan has driven to madness by touching him. That is because they say, ‘Trade is just like interest.’ But Allah has permitted trade and forbidden interest. So whoever has received admonition from his Lord and refrains, then whatever is past is forgiven for him, and his affair rests with Allah. But whoever returns to it—those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.”
Considering interest like trade is misguidance; trade is lawful, interest is forbidden—whoever returns after admonition is a denizen of Hell.
More Forms of Illicit Earnings
⑤ Taking Wealth by False Oath
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
( مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلیٰ یَمِیْنٍ فَاجِرَۃٍ لِیَقْتَطِعَ بِہَا مَالَ امْرِیئٍ مُسْلِمٍ لَقِیَ اللّٰہَ وَہُوَ عَلَیْہِ غَضْبَان ) [ متفق علیہ ]
“Whoever takes possession of a Muslim’s wealth by false oath will meet Allah while He is angry with him.”
This hadith is a severe warning for those who take false oaths in transactions, lawsuits, or business disputes to suppress the rights of others.
⑥ Cheating in Weights and Measures
﴿وَیْلٌ لِّلْمُطَفِّفِیْنَ ٭ الَّذِیْنَ اِِذَا اکْتَالُوْا عَلَی النَّاسِ یَسْتَوْفُوْنَ ٭ وَاِِذَا کَالُوْہُمْ اَوْ وَّزَنُوْہُمْ یُخْسِرُوْنَ ﴾ [المطففین:۱۔۳]
“Destruction is for those who cheat in weights and measures; when they take from people, they take full measure, but when they give, they give less.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( وَلَمْ یَنْقُصُوا الْمِکْیَالَ وَالْمِیْزَانَ إِلَّا أُخِذُوْا بِالسِّنِیْنَ وَشِدَّۃِ الْمَؤنَۃِ وَجَوْرِ السُّلْطَانِ عَلَیْہِمْ ) [ ابن ماجہ: ۴۰۱۹ ]
“When a people cheat in weights and measures, they are afflicted with famine, inflation, and the oppression of rulers.”
⑦ Deception and Adulteration in Business
On one occasion, the Prophet ﷺ put his hand into a pile of grain and felt moisture inside. He ﷺ said:
( أَفَلَا جَعَلْتَہُ فَوْقَ الطَّعَامِ کَیْ یَرَاہُ النَّاسُ ! مَنْ غَشَّ فَلَیْسَ مِنِّی ) [ مسلم: ۱۰۲ ]
“Why did you not put the wet part on top so that people could see? Remember! Whoever deceives is not from me.”
Adulteration, false labels, counterfeit medicines, selling defective goods—all fall under this category of fraud.
⑧ Taking and Giving Bribes
Regarding bribery, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
( لَعَنَ اللّٰہُ الرَّاشِیَ وَالْمُرْتَشِیَ وَالرَّائِشَ بَیْنَہُمَا )
“May Allah curse the one who gives a bribe, the one who takes a bribe, and the one who mediates between them.”
If a person gives a bribe out of compulsion to avoid oppression or to obtain his right, then the sin will be on the one who takes the bribe and the mediator, not on the giver.
⑨ Business of Forbidden Items
❀ Trading in cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, music, film material, and all immoralities is forbidden.
❀ Similarly, buying and selling forbidden animals and their parts is also unlawful.
❀ Professions based on obscenity and indecency, such as earning from prostitution or unlawful entertainment sources, are also forbidden.
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Masood Ansari رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said:
( نَهَى رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ ﷺ عَنْ ثَمَنِ الْكَلْبِ وَمَهْرِ الْبَغِيِّ وَحُلْوَانِ الْكَاهِنِ )
“The Prophet ﷺ forbade the price of a dog, the earnings of a prostitute, and the wages of an astrologer.”
However, hunting dogs are permitted.
⑩ Seizing the Property of Orphans
﴿ اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ یَاْکُلُوْنَ اَمْوَالَ الْیَتٰمٰی ظُلْمًا اِنَّمَا یَاْکُلُوْنَ فِیْ بُطُوْنِھِمْ نَارًا وَ سَیَصْلَوْنَ سَعِیْرًا ﴾
“Those who consume the property of orphans unjustly, they only consume fire into their bellies, and they will soon enter a blazing fire.”
This act is among the “seven destructive sins” from which the Prophet ﷺ strictly forbade.
⑪ Betrayal in Trust
﴿ وَمَنْ يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ ﴾ [آل عمران: 161]
“And whoever commits betrayal will bring what he betrayed with on the Day of Resurrection. Then every person will be given full recompense for what he did, and they will not be wronged.”
Whoever commits betrayal will appear on the Day of Resurrection with the very thing in which he betrayed.
The Messenger ﷺ said:
( أَیُّمَا رَجُلٍ اِسْتَعْمَلْنَاہُ عَلٰی عَمَلٍ فَکَتَمَنَا مِخْیَطًا فَمَا فَوْقَہُ کَانَ غَلُوْلًا یَأْتِی بِہِ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ ) [ مسلم : ۱۸۷ ]
“Whoever we appoint over a task and he hides something from us — even if it is a needle — then that is betrayal (ghulul), and he will bring that very thing on the Day of Resurrection (in which he betrayed).”
Betrayal includes not only financial trust but also secrets, promises, positions, and confidence. Misuse of time or resources in employment is also betrayal.
⑫ Borrowing and not returning
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
( أَیُّمَا رَجُلٍ یَدِیْنُ دَیْنًا وَہُوَ مُجْمِعٌ أَن لَّا یُوْفِیَہُ إِیَّاہُ ، لَقِیَ اللّٰہَ سَارِقًا )
“Whoever takes a loan with the intention of not repaying it, he will meet Allah on the Day of Judgment as a thief.”
And He said:
( مَنْ أَخَذَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ یُرِیْدُ أَدَائَہَا أَدَّی اللّٰہُ عَنْہُ ، وَمَنْ أَخَذَ یُرِیْدُ إِتْلَافَہَا أَتْلَفَہُ اللّٰہُ ) [ البخاری :۲۳۸۷ ]
“Whoever takes people’s wealth with the intention of repaying it, Allah helps him to repay it. And whoever takes people’s wealth with the intention of wasting it, Allah destroys him.”
This is why the Prophet ﷺ himself would step back from the funeral prayer of a debtor until the responsibility of repaying his debt was fulfilled.
Hadith:
( وَالَّذِیْ نَفْسِی بِیَدِہِ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا قُتِلَ فِی سَبِیْلِ اللّٰہِ… مَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّۃَ حَتّٰی یُقْضٰی عَنْہُ دَیْنُہُ )
“By the One in Whose hand is my soul! If a person is martyred in the way of Allah, then brought back to life, then martyred again, then brought back to life, and then martyred a third time — and still has a debt remaining, he will not enter Paradise until his debt is paid off.”
All these examples indicate that sources of unlawful earnings are not only harmful in this world but also cause destruction in the Hereafter.
Consequences and Devastating Effects of Unlawful Earnings
Allah’s Command and Its Wisdom
Allah Almighty has clearly commanded us to eat lawful and earn lawful so that a person’s body, soul, worship, and morals all remain pure. On the contrary, unlawful earnings bring misfortune and destruction to every aspect of a person’s life. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
( إِنَّ اللّٰہَ طَیِّبٌ لَا یَقْبَلُ إِلَّا طَیِّبًا ) [ مسلم: ۱۰۱۵ ]
“Indeed, Allah is pure and only accepts that which is pure.”
Therefore, neither worship is accepted, nor prayers, nor charity — if unlawful earnings are involved.
Causes of Earning through Haram Means
❶ Lack of Fear of Allah
The first and greatest reason for the increase in earning through haram means is the disappearance of the fear of God.
If there is piety in the heart, a person does not cheat in measurements, does not take interest, does not ask for bribes, does not lie, and does not commit betrayal.
✿ If there was fear of Allah, interest-based business would not operate.
✿ If there was fear, deception and adulteration would not be common.
✿ If there was fear, bribery, false oaths, theft, and gambling would end.
✿ If there was fear, no one would consume the wealth of orphans.
But today, the fear of Allah has been erased from hearts. People say:
“Everyone does it, so why shouldn’t we!”
This very phrase is the gateway to misguidance. The real need is that a person revives the fear of Allah in the heart and closes all paths to earning haram livelihood.
❷ Desire to Become Wealthy Overnight
The second major root of unlawful means is that people want to become rich quickly.
Islam teaches patience, hard work, and gradual earning of sustenance, but today many people do not tolerate delay in provision and resort to illegitimate means.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَیْنَہُمْ مَّعِیْشَتَہُمْ فِی الْحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنْیَا ﴾ [ الزخرف : ۳۲ ]
“We have apportioned their livelihood among them in the life of this world.”
And He said:
﴿ اَللّٰہُ یَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ یَّشَآئُ مِنْ عِبَادِہٖ وَ یَقْدِرُ لَہٗ ﴾ [العنکبوت: 62]
“Allah grants abundance to whom He wills and restricts (provision) for whom He wills.”
Therefore, a servant should be content, adopt satisfaction, and trust in Allah’s decree. Sustenance will be obtained through lawful effort, not through unlawful ways.
The Advice of the Prophet ﷺ
( إِنَّ جِبْرِیْلَ أَلْقٰی فِی رَوْعِی أَنَّ أَحَدًا مِّنْکُمْ لَن یَّخْرُجَ مِنَ الدُّنْیَا حَتّٰی یَسْتَکْمِلَ رِزْقَہُ فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ وَأَجْمِلُوْا فِی الطَّلَبِ … )
“Jibra’il (peace be upon him) inspired in my heart that none of you will leave this world until he has completed his full provision. So fear Allah and seek sustenance through good (i.e., lawful) means.”
At the end of the hadith, it is stated:
( خُذُوْا مَا حَلَّ وَدَعُوْا مَا حَرَّمَ )
“Take only what is lawful and leave what is unlawful.”
❸ Negligence Regarding the Seriousness of Consuming the Unlawful
Many people consume unlawful wealth but do not realize how serious a crime they are committing.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( إِنَّہُ لَا یَرْبُو لَحْمٌ نَبَتَ مِنْ سُحْتٍ إِلَّا کَانَتِ النَّارُ أَوْلٰی بِہِ ) [ ترمذی: ۶۱۴ ]
“The flesh that is produced from eating unlawful food is more deserving of the fire of Hell.”
Example of the Pious Predecessors:
The incident of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه is famous that when a servant brought food for him, and later it was found that the wealth was taken in exchange for false soothsaying during the time of ignorance, he immediately put his hand down his throat and vomited, expelling all the food.
This is piety and sensitivity towards what is lawful and unlawful.
❹ Greed and Covetousness
Greed blinds a person; then he does not see whether the path is lawful or unlawful.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
( مَا ذِئْبَانِ جَائِعَانِ أُرْسِلَا فِی غَنَمٍ بِأَفْسَدَ لَہَا مِنْ حِرْصِ الْمَرْئِ عَلَی الْمَالِ وَالشَّرَفِ لِدِیْنِہِ ) [ ترمذی : ۲۳۷۶ ]
“If two hungry wolves are released among a flock of sheep, they will not cause as much damage as greed for wealth and fame causes to a person’s religion.”
Greed consumes religion, weakens faith, and pushes a person towards unlawful paths.
Conclusion
❀ The Provider of sustenance is only Allah; there is none besides Him.
❀ The command to earn sustenance is through hard work and struggle, but only through lawful means.
❀ Earnings from unlawful sources destroy worship, prayer, morals, and social relations.
❀ Wealth obtained through unlawful means, no matter how much, is devoid of blessing and peace.
❀ Lawful earnings are a source of honor, blessing, and salvation in the Hereafter.
Conclusion
A Muslim should be content with lawful sustenance in every circumstance,
and must uphold piety, honesty, and trustworthiness in their dealings.
They should abandon usury, bribery, lying, betrayal, and unlawful means,
so that they may receive blessings in this world and salvation in the Hereafter.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
( الطَّیِّبُ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ نِعْمَ الْمَعِینُ عَلَی الدِّینِ )
“Pure sustenance is the best support for religion.”
May Allah Almighty grant us lawful sustenance, protect us from unlawful means, and bless our sustenance.
آمین یا رب العالمین۔
