The key to self-sufficiency:
A Bedouin was told: “The loaf of bread now costs one dinar.”How can I become self -sufficient?
Answer: As the Qudsi Hadīth says:
“O son of Adam, devote yourself to My worship, and I will fill your heart with self- sufficiency and fill your hands with sustenance.O son of Adam, do not turn away from Me, or I will fill your heart with poverty and fill your hands with distractions.”
[Narrated by Al-Hākim in Al-Mustadrak; Sahīh (authentic)]
Once a person’s heart becomes content with Allah Almighty and pleased with whatever He gives, he becomes self-sufficient, honorable, and strong through his Lord beyond any need for people. How amazing! Self-sufficiency with no great wealth, and strength and honor without authority or supporters!
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said:
“ Successful is the one who embraces Islam a nd is provided with mere subsistence and Allah makes him content with what He has given him.”
[Narrated by Muslim]
If a person does not have contentment within his heart, he will never feel satisfied, even if he had all the wealth in the world. The Prophet(may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“O Abu Dharr, do you think that richness is abundant wealth? Indeed, richness lies in the contentment of the heart, and poverty is the need within the heart.”
[Narrated by Ibn Hibbān; Sahīh (authentic)]
So,aperson who feels self-sufficient within his heart would not care about the hardships he may face in life. Conversely, if he has poverty within his heart, nothing in the world would satisfy him. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said:
“And be content with what Allah alloted to you, and you will become the richest among people.”
[Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; Hasan (sound)]
Another Hadīth reads:
“He who seeks chastity, Allah will keep him chaste, and he who seeks self-sufficiency, Allah will make him self -sufficient.”
[Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
People do not like poverty,
though poverty that makes them transgress is better than opulence.
Contentment is sufficient for a person;
yet if he does not have that, nothing will ever be sufficient for him.
In Islam, a rich person is he who feels contentment within his heart and has no need for people and who stands in need of Allah Almighty. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“The honor of the believer lies in his prayer at night, and his dignity lies in dispensing with people’s possessions.”
[Narrated by Al-Hākim; Hasan (sound)]
A Bedouin was told: “The loaf of bread now costs one dinar.”
He replied:
“By Allah, I do not care about that, even if the grain of wheat were to cost one dinar. I worship Allah as He commanded me, and He provides for me as He promised me.”
Al-Nasafi (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:
“Al-Wāsiti said: ‘Whoever asks from Allah alone will not be in need, and who ever seeks honor from Allah will not be humiliated.’ Al Husayn said: ‘A person becomes self-sufficient as much as he stands in need before Allah.’”
A wise man once said:“Someone may keep away from me, but when I remember that I am self-sufficient by Allah and do not need him, I feel coolness within my heart.”Ibn al-Sa‘di (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:“Indeed, true richness lies in the contentment of the heart. There are many people who are wealthy, yet their he arts are poor and dejected.”
I disown my own power and strength
and admit that I am in utmost need for my Lord.
When a person becomes self-sufficient by the Most Compassionate,
he becomes truly rich and held in awe.
O Allah, You gave us before we ask You; then what about when we actually ask You?!
O Allah, make us rich by standing in need before You, and do not make us poor by turning away from You; indeed, You are the Self-Sufficient, there is no god except You.
O Allah, grant us sufficiency with lawful things against unlawful things, and with Your bounty against being in need of others.
