Rizq (sustenance) is a great blessing from Allah for His servants. Amid life’s many worries about livelihood, needs and the future, trusting in Allah for one’s sustenance is a defining trait of a believer.
Human life does not always move at the same pace. Sometimes comfort comes, and sometimes we face hardship. At certain points in life, it can feel as though every path has closed. In those moments, people turn to Allah, hoping for His mercy and help.
Islam does not teach people merely to pray; rather, alongside seeking a livelihood through halal effort, it instructs believers to place their trust (tawakkul) in Allah. For blessing and abundance in one’s rizq, regular worship, supplication, seeking forgiveness (istighfar) and good deeds should be emphasized.
Seeking rizq through halal means
In the Holy Quran, Allah says:
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَےةُ فَانۡتَشِرُوۡا فِی الأَرۡضِ وَ ابۡتَغُوۡا مِنۡ فَضۡلِ اللّےهِ وَ اذۡكُرُوا اللّےهَ كَثِیرًا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُوۡنَ
Meaning: “And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may succeed.”
— Surah Al-Jumu’ah, verse 10
This verse shows that, alongside worship, striving to earn a livelihood through lawful and halal means is also an important instruction of Islam.
Devotion in worship
In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah says: “O son of Adam, devote yourself to My worship; I will fill your heart with contentment and remove your want. But if you do not do so, I will fill your hands with worldly business and will not remove your want.”
This narration is related from Abu Hurairah (RA) and appears in Sunan al-Tirmidhi. The lesson of this hadith is that, alongside worldly obligations, it is essential to set aside time for the worship of Allah. Alongside striving to meet life’s needs, strengthening one’s relationship with Allah is also a believer’s responsibility.
A supplication for blessing in rizq
There is a supplication for blessing and abundance in rizq and in life:
اللهم اغفر لي ذنبي ووسع لي في رزقي وبارك لي فيما رزقتني
Transliteration: Allahummaghfir li dhanbi, wa wassi’ li fi rizqi, wa barik li fima razaqtani.
Meaning: “O Allah, forgive my sins, expand my sustenance, and bless me in what You have provided me.”
This supplication is found in Sunan al-Tirmidhi. Sincerely praying to Allah for one’s needs, wants and sustenance is a highly important practice for a believer.
Frequent istighfar
The Quran also emphasizes istighfar, or seeking Allah’s forgiveness, for the sake of rizq and wellbeing.
In Surah Nuh, the Prophet Nuh (AS) urged his people to seek Allah’s forgiveness. This is followed by mention of Allah’s bounty through rain, wealth and children.
In other words, turning away from sin, seeking Allah’s forgiveness, and living in obedience to Him can open the path to wellbeing for a believer.
Reciting Surah Al-Waqiah
Many Muslims regularly recite Surah Al-Waqiah in hope of blessing in their rizq. However, the widely circulated narration that “reciting Surah Al-Waqiah every night will ensure poverty never comes” has a chain of narration that hadith scholars disagree on. As a matter of caution, it should therefore not be promoted as a certain or definitive hadith.
That said, reciting any surah of the Quran is a rewarded act of worship. So regularly reading the Quran, including Surah Al-Waqiah, trying to understand its meaning, and living accordingly is beneficial for a Muslim.
Effort alongside trust in Allah
Prayer alone is not enough; striving for one’s rizq through halal means is also essential. A person should work to the best of their ability, put in effort, and then trust Allah for the outcome.
However large wealth acquired through unlawful means may be, it carries no true blessing. So when it comes to rizq, the source matters just as much as the amount.
Rizq is not only about wealth. Health, family, security, knowledge, time and peace are all blessings from Allah. So when want or hardship comes in life, one should not despair, but trust in Allah, pray, and fulfill one’s responsibilities through lawful means.
It is a person’s duty to strive; the outcome rests with Allah. So alongside prayer for one’s rizq, making halal effort, worship, istighfar and good deeds a part of daily life can be a believer’s path to a good life.