Photo: Collected
Every person wishes to live well; everyone wants their standard of living to improve further. No one desires sorrow, hardship, want or crisis. Yet does one get everything merely by wishing for it? Hunger, poverty and financial hardship surround many people. Under this pressure, many sink into despair, drift further away from Allah and set foot on the path of darkness. Islam has therefore given clear guidance so that a believer’s faith, character, family life and social life do not fall into crisis. Some of these are discussed below.
Prayer with humility
However great the crisis, there is no deed better than prayer. When misfortune strikes, we search for all kinds of deeds; yet the best way is to seek a solution through prayer. Allah says, ‘And seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, it is very difficult, except for the humble.’ (Surah Al-Baqarah: Verse 45).
Seeking forgiveness, or istighfar
Seeking Allah’s forgiveness, that is, istighfar, is a noble deed. It restores prosperity and also removes crises. The Prophet Hud (AS) said to his people, ‘And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him. He will send down upon you abundant rain from the sky and add strength to your strength. And do not turn away as wrongdoers.’ (Surah Hud: Verse 52).
Planned steps
Moving forward according to a plan makes it easier to emerge from a crisis. Rayyan ibn al-Walid, the king of Egypt, had a dream: ‘Seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean cows, and seven green ears of grain and seven others dry.’ While interpreting that dream, the Prophet Yusuf (AS) understood that the country would face famine for seven years to come. So he gave the king a plan to withstand the shock of the famine. The Quran describes that plan thus: ‘He (Yusuf, peace and blessings be upon him) said, You will cultivate for seven consecutive years. Then whatever you harvest, leave it in its ears, except a little from which you will eat. Then after that will come seven hard years which will consume what you had saved for them, except a little which you will preserve (for seed).’ (Surah Yusuf: Verses 47-48).
Building savings
It is better to build savings after fulfilling the due rights on one’s wealth in a manner consistent with Shariah, and to leave some wealth behind for one’s heirs. ‘The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) visited Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (RA) on his deathbed and said, It is better for you to leave your heirs self-sufficient than to leave them helpless, holding out their hands to people.’ (Sahih Bukhari: Hadith 1295).
Protecting wealth
Ensuring the equitable distribution of wealth is extremely necessary. Otherwise, wealth will not be protected, nor will it be possible to overcome any major crisis. The Quran says, ‘Whatever Allah has given to His Messenger from the people of the towns is for Allah and His Messenger, and for relatives, orphans, the needy and the wayfarer, so that it does not circulate only among the rich among you.’ (Surah Al-Hashr: Verse 7).
Balance in spending
It is a believer’s duty to spend thoughtfully and in the right places. Just as spending lavishly here and there is objectionable, being unwilling to take money out of one’s pocket when it is needed is equally blameworthy. Allah says, ‘And do not keep your hand chained to your neck, nor extend it completely.’ (Surah Al-Isra: Verse 29).
Preventing hoarding
To overcome a crisis, hoarding must be stopped by any means. Those in charge of administration have the biggest role to play in this. In Islam, too, hoarding is considered a serious offence. Narrated by Umar (RA), the Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘The one who brings goods to market is provided for, and the hoarder is accursed.’ (Sunan Ibn Majah: Hadith 2153).
The writer is education secretary and senior muhaddith, Jamia Arabia Darul Uloom Bage Jannat, Chashara, Narayanganj
