The Arabic word barakah means growth, abundance, lasting good and the grace of God. Barakah is not simply an increase in wealth, though. Finding contentment in little, being able to do more good in limited time and feeling lasting peace in life are also important parts of it.
In Islam barakah matters greatly in making a person’s private, family and social life a good one. In the light of the Quran and hadith, there are ten practices regarded as means of gaining barakah in life.
1. Faith and taqwa
One of the foundations of barakah in life is faith and taqwa, or God-consciousness. By following God’s guidance and keeping away from sin, a person tries to earn His pleasure. Verse 96 of Surah Al-A’raf says that had the people of the towns believed and been God-conscious, the blessings of the heavens and the earth would have been opened to them.
2. Reciting and following the Quran regularly
The Quran is a source of guidance and good for people. Reciting it is not enough on its own: understanding its teaching and trying to put it into practice in daily life also matter. Verse 155 of Surah Al-An’am describes the Quran as a blessed book and commands that it be followed. Reading the Quran regularly and practising its teaching helps build a religious atmosphere in the family.
3. Starting work early in the day
Making use of the early part of the day is another means of barakah. Starting the day’s work at dawn and avoiding idleness can make better use of time and raise efficiency. The Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed for blessing in the early hours of the day for his community. The hadith is narrated in Sunan Abu Dawud (hadith 2606).
4. Keeping family ties
Keeping good relations with parents, family members and close relatives is an important teaching of Islam. The hadith describes keeping family bonds intact as a means of increased provision and a longer life. In hadith 5986 of Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged keeping ties of kinship.
5. Lawful earning and honesty in trade
To gain barakah, it is essential to keep to what is lawful in earning a living and to stay honest. In trade, telling the truth about the quality and faults of goods builds trust between buyer and seller. Hadith 2079 of Sahih al-Bukhari links barakah with telling the truth in buying and selling and disclosing defects in goods. Dishonest earning, by contrast, can damage a person’s morals and peace of mind.
6. Repentance and seeking forgiveness
No one is beyond error. Regretting one’s mistakes, asking God’s forgiveness and trying to make amends are therefore important duties of a believer. Verses 10 to 12 of Surah Nuh mention rain, wealth and children increasing with istighfar, the seeking of forgiveness. Regular repentance and istighfar lead a person on the path of self-purification.
7. A habit of giving charity
Charity is a highly meritorious deed in Islam. Standing by the helpless and the needy brings good to society and is also a means of earning God’s pleasure. In verse 276 of Surah Al-Baqarah, God says He destroys usury and makes charity grow. It is therefore important to give regularly according to one’s means, and to give sincerely.
8. Gratitude for God’s blessings
Being grateful to God for everything one receives in life, large or small, is one of the ways to barakah. Gratitude keeps a person from arrogance and teaches the value of the blessings received. In verse 7 of Surah Ibrahim, God declares that if people are grateful, He will increase His blessings on them.
9. Eating together
Eating together with family members or others is part of Islamic etiquette. Sharing a meal builds goodwill and harmony. Hadith 3287 of Sunan Ibn Majah instructs believers to eat together and to remember God’s name. The hadith says there is blessing in eating this way.
10. Trust in God
Alongside doing one’s best in every task, trusting in God is a mark of the believer. Tawakkul does not mean giving up effort; it means carrying out one’s own duty by lawful means and relying on God for the outcome. In Islamic teaching this trust gives the heart patience, courage and peace.
A blessed life needs steady practice
Barakah is not limited to plenty of money and wealth. It also shows in the right use of time, lawful livelihood, family harmony, peace of mind and good works. By making practices such as faith and taqwa, following the Quran’s teaching, keeping family ties, charity and gratitude to God a regular part of life, a person can move towards a blessed life.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report