Dear Islamic sisters! You have just heard that Halal food is full of blessings. By virtue of eating Halal food, one’s heart is filled with Noor [i.e. light]. By virtue of eating Halal food, one speaks words of wisdom. We have also learnt that whoever goes out in search of sustenance for his household and old parents is in the path of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Just ponder how great virtues and blessings a person receives by earning and eating Halal. But alas!

Some people, under the influence of Nafs and Satan, use Haraam means, consume Haraam or let others consume Haraam despite the availability of easy and Halal sources of livelihood, and make themselves deserving of Hell.

The character of righteous people of Allah Almighty is appreciable regarding earning and consuming Halal sustenance and avoiding Haraam and doubtful things. These blessed people sometimes would travel far and wide in search of Halal sustenance. Further, they did not use to usurp others’ possession, but rather they were very careful. For persuasion, let’s listen to a faith-refreshing parable and get Madani pearls from it.

Travel in search of Halal sustenance

On page 223 and 224 of ‘Uyoon-ul-Hikayaat (part 1), a 410-page book published by Maktaba-tul-Madinah, the publishing department of Dawat-e-Islami, it is mentioned that Sayyiduna Ibraheem Bin Adham رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: I once travelled to a city namely ‘Tarsoos’ in search of Halal sustenance. When I reached there, a man approached me and said: I need a person who can guard and look after my grape orchard. Are you ready to look after my orchard on a wage? I replied in the affirmative. I went with that person and began to work in his orchard with great dedication and hard work.

One day, the owner of the orchard along with some of his friends came to the orchard and asked me to bring him some best quality sweet grapes. Having heard this, I brought him a huge quantity of grapes. When the owner ate a grape it was sour. He said to me: O the guard of this orchard! Very sorry to say that you have been working here for a long time but still you have not been able to recognise sweet and sour grapes, though, you would be eating lots of grapes from here all day and night. I said to the owner of the orchard: