Causes Of Poverty In Sustenance

March 16,2017 - Published 7 years ago

Causes Of Poverty In Sustenance

CAUSES OF POVERTY IN SUSTENANCE

If we ponder over the situation of our society at present, we can easily observe that almost everyone in our society has suffered from some sort of trouble. Someone is in debt while the other is facing family problems; someone is poor while the other is unemployed; someone wishes to have children while the other is upset with his own disobedient children. In short, everyone is facing one problem or the other. In these troubled times, poverty rate is increasing with no blessings in sustenance. This is why almost everyone is caught in the poverty trap. People in our society frequently complain about poverty, starvation, unemployment and lack of blessings in sustenance; yet, surprisingly, neither they seriously ponder over its causes mentioned in the Glorious Quran Karim, blessed Ahadees and the sayings of the blessed saints, nor do they take practical steps to remove these causes.

It is mentioned on page 543 of volume 3 of Tafseer Siraat-ul-Jinaan: When the Muslims show ingratitude to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ they become heedless of the remembrance of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and get busy in satisfying their desires of Nafs [i.e. inner-self]. Moreover, because of [committing] bad deeds abundantly, they prove themselves to be unworthy of the blessings of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ so Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ makes them lose the blessings He had bestowed upon them.

(Siraat-ul-Jinaan, vol. 3, pp. 543)


Explaining the significance of gratitude and the destructiveness of ingratitude, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has said in Ayah 7 of Surah Ibraheem, part 13:

لَئِنۡ شَکَرۡ تُمۡ لَاَ زِیۡدَ نَّکُمۡ وَ لَئِنۡ کَفَرۡ تُمۡ اِنَّ عَذَ ابِیۡ لَشَدِ یۡدٌ ﴿۷﴾

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: If you give thanks, I will give you more, and if you are ungrateful then (know that) My punishment is severe.

Expressing deep regret for the disrespect and waste of sustenance in the present era, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـه has said: Disrespect and waste of food are common in virtually every home. Whether it is a billionaire living in a bungalow or a labourer dwelling in a simple hut, both are equally careless in this regard. A variety of food is wasted on several occasions especially weddings. Furthermore, there is high wastage of the leftover gravy, rice etc. (مَـعَـاذَ الـلّٰـه عَـزَّوَجَـلَّ) while the pots are being washed. If only we had kept an eye on this great cause of poverty.

The mother of believers, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا has said: The Beloved and Blessed Rasool Hazrat Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم entered his blessed home and saw a piece of bread that was lying [on the ground]. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم picked it up, cleaned it and then ate it. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then said, ‘يَا عَائِشَةُ اَكْرِمِيْ كَرِيْمًا فَاِنَّهَا مَا نَفَرَتْ عَنْ قَوْمٍ قَطُّ فَعَادَت اِلَيْهِمْ’ O ‘Aaishah (رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا)! Honour the good thing as this thing (i.e. bread) does not return if it has run away from any nation.


(Sunan Ibn Majah, vol. 4, pp. 49, Hadees 3353)


Therefore, we should highly value sustenance - a great blessing of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. In addition, we should also follow Sunan and manners while eating food because eating food according to Sunan and manners will not only prevent us from wasting sustenance اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ but it will also earn us immense reward in this life and the Hereafter. By virtue of it, we will also get great blessings in our sustenance.

The second caliph, Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has narrated that Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, ‘Eat together. Do not eat separately, as blessing is with the group.’
Usury or interest which is called ‘رِبا’ [Riba] in Arabic also causes lack of sustenance, as it is stated: ‘اِیَّاکُمْ وَالرِّبَا فَاِنَّہُ یُوْرِثُ الْفَقْرَ’ i.e., avoid usury, it brings poverty.

(Irshad-us-Saari, vol. 8, pp. 343, Hadees 3828)


Remember! Riba (usury) is such an evil which has always destroyed economy and business.

The Glorious Quran and blessed Hadees have strongly condemned it. From Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم there is even a declaration of war against those who do not refrain from it.

Not paying Zakah is also one of the causes of decrease in sustenance and economic decline. Remember! Zakah is a basic pillar of Islam and an extremely important act of worship related to wealth. It is an effective system which benefits the poor and the destitute people of society. If all wealthy people pay Zakah correctly, poverty and destitution would vanish. The Holy Quran strongly warns those not paying Zakah. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has said:

وَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَکۡنِزُوۡنَ الذَّ ہَبَ وَ الۡفِضَّۃَ وَ لَا یُنۡفِقُوۡ نَہَا فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ ۙ فَبَشِّرۡ ہُمۡ بِعَذَابٍ اَلِیۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۳۴﴾

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: And those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend it in Allah’s way – so give them the glad tidings of painful punishment.

(Part 10, Surah At-Taubah, Ayah 34)


The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: The nation that does not give Zakah, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will make them suffer from drought.

(Al-Mu’jam-ul-Awsat, vol. 3, pp. 275, Hadees, 4577)


Evil deeds are also the causes of poverty

Committing sins is one of the causes of poverty. Undoubtedly, committing evil deeds is a major cause of various difficulties and problems that a person faces from time to time, like poverty, unemployment and lack of blessing in sustenance. When a person disobeys Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and starts committing sins frequently, then he faces various problems besides poverty and unemployment. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has stated in Ayah 30 of Surah Ash Shura, part 25:

وَ مَاۤ اَصَابَکُمۡ مِّنۡ مُّصِیۡبَۃٍ فَبِمَا کَسَبَتۡ اَیۡدِ یۡکُمۡ وَ یَعۡفُوۡ ا عَنۡ کَثِیۡرٍ ﴿ؕ۳۰﴾

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: And whatever calamity befalls you is because of what your hands have earned and there is a great deal that He pardons.

(Part 25, Surah Ash-Shura, Ayah 30)


In our society, people fearlessly commit various sins such as using offensive and foul language; making false-accusations; having bad assumption; backbiting and tale-telling; finding faults with others; speaking ill of others; telling lies; making false promises; unlawfully taking someone’s wealth and possessions; getting into fights which even lead to bloodshed; hurting someone’s feelings without any Shar’i reason; not paying debt; not returning someone’s possession after taking it temporarily; calling the Muslims with bad names; using someone’s possession without his consent even when it annoys him; drinking alcohol; indulging in gambling; committing theft and robbery; committing fornication; watching films and dramas; listening to songs and music; giving and taking bribery and Riba [i.e. interest]; disobeying parents and annoying them; misappropriating; gazing unlawfully; men imitating women and women imitating men; not observing purdah; showing arrogance; jealousy; ostentation; malice and hatred for a Muslim; showing happiness if a Muslim has fallen ill or has suffered loss etc.; going beyond the bounds of Shari’ah in anger; lust for sins; love for self-respect; miserliness, etc.

Just ponder! If we are facing poverty and deprivation today as a result of committing such grave sins frequently, so it is actually our own fault. Therefore, if we wish to achieve economic prosperity, receive blessings and remain safe from various problems and deprivation of sustenance, we will have to get rid of sins. Remember! Wishing to get rid of problems and difficulties without refraining from sins is like sowing a thorn and getting a flower in return, which is not possible.

دیکھے ہیں یہ دن اپنی ہی غفلت کی بدولت
سچ ہے کہ بُرے کام کا انجام بُرا ہے


The fortunate people eat food fulfilling Sunan and etiquettes of Sunnah. They eat together. Moreover, respecting their sustenance, they even eat pieces of food which fall on the dinning mat; Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ showers blessings in their sustenance. On contrary, those who show disrespect to their sustenance, fall into poverty even it is stated in the light of blessed Hadees that those disrespecting this great blessing of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, this blessing gets displeased in such a way that it never comes back. Therefore, we should respect all the blessings of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, because the act of disrespecting the blessings is also a cause of poverty. Seeking repentance from sins is also necessary for preventing the deprivation in sustenance. According to the blessed Hadees, one becomes deprived of sustenance by the ominousness of sins. Those longing for blessings in their sustenance should give Sadaqah (charity) from the wealth bestowed upon them by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Pay Zakah when it becomes Fard. One should be honest and truthful in his work and other matters. In the matter of sustenance and all other issues, one should have absolute trust in Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ ease the difficulties of all Muslims, make us firm and punctual Salah-offering-person and grant us Istiqamat (steadfastness) in the Madani environment of Dawat-e-Islami throughout our lives.

اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِه وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Comments (4)
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Ahmed Abrar Attari

Very Nice Post

M Shahid Attari

ما شاء اللہ عزّوجلّ

ZAHIR Madni

ما شاء اللہ عزّوجلّ

Nasir Memon

This is one of very beautiful write-up.