Sayyiduna Farooqe Azam’s Source of Income

Islam persuades its followers to earn livelihood through fair means and it values their struggle for Rizq-e-Halal (lawful sustenance).

The pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ اللّٰە also chose a lawful source of income. The second caliph, Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ is also one of such pious personages.

Source of income

Sources of income of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ also include ‘sharing of produce’ i.e., Mazar’at [مزارعت]^[1]. It is stated in the Sahih Bukhari: He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ entered into agreement of ‘sharing of produce’ with people in this way that when he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ would bring the seeds himself, he would get half share of the produce of land and if they bring the seeds, they would get so-and-so amount of produce. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 87, Hadees 2327)

Moreover, leather business was also the source of income of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ. It is stated in a -Hanafi Fiqh book ‘Ikhtiyar Sharh-e-Mukhtar’: ‘عُمَرُ يَعْمَلُ فِی الْأَدِيْمِ’ i.e. Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ used to do leather business. (Al-Ikhtiyar-it-Ta’leel-il-Mukhtar, vol. 2, pp. 182, part 4)

In his childhood, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ also used to graze his father’s camels and when he grew up a little, he started grazing the camels of the tribe ‘Bani Makhzoom’ along with his father’s camels. Once he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ passed by the place of grazing of his camels, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ said, ‘I used to graze my father’s camels in this very valley.’ (Al-Istee’aab, vol. 3, pp. 243; Faizan Farooq-e-A’zam, vol. 1, pp. 66)

Business trips of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq

Authentic history and tourism books hardly bring any piece of information about the business trips of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ. In the book, Ansaab-ul-Ashraaf ‘Allamah Balazuri [بَلاذُری] has mentioned only one mercantile caravan of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ leaving for Syria. (Ansaab-ul-Ashraaf, vol. 10, pp. 315)

Blessed persuasive sayings of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq about earning

1     Learn skill because you will need it soon. (Mawsu’ah Ibn Abid Dunya, vol. 7, pp. 473)

2     The source of income that is rather inferior is better than begging from people. (Mawsu’ah Ibn Abid Dunya, vol. 7, pp. 475)

3     If there is no trade (sale and purchase), you will become dependent on others. (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 5, pp. 258, Raqm 2)

4     O group of Qurra (reciters of the Holy Quran)! Keep your head up, [your] path is clear. Excel in the virtuous deeds, do not become a burden on the Muslims by being dependent on them. (At-Tibyaan fi Adaab Himla-til-Quran, pp. 54)

5     None amongst you should give up the search for his sustenance and pray like this, ‘O Allah! Bestow sustenance upon me’. Because you know that gold and silver do not shower from the heavens. (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 2, pp. 80)

6     When I like any young man, I ask [people] if he does any piece of work. If the people say, ‘No’. He falls from grace before me. (Al-Mujalisah-o-Jawahir-ul-‘Ilm, vol. 3, pp. 113, Raqm 3028)

7     One who trades in anything three times and does not gain any profit then he should engage himself in any other work. (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 5, pp. 393, Raqm 1)

May Almighty Allah enable us to earn a lawful sustenance with good intentions.

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

٭ Ghazwah-e-Khandaq (battle of trench) took place in the 5^th year of Hijri, in which 7 blessed companions رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُم embraced martyrdom and the Muslims made conquest.

٭ The event of ‘Bay’at-ur-Ridwan’ took place in the 6^th year of Hijri and the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم took the pledge from the blessed companions رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُم. Thereafter, the treaty of Hudaybiyah was drawn up.

٭ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed Qada ‘Umrah in the 7^th year of Hijri. On this very occasion, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم married Sayyidatuna Maymunah رَضِیَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهَا.

٭ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed ‘Umrah in the 8^th year of Hijri too.

٭ In the 9^th year of Hijri, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sent a caravan of 300 Muslims from Madinah to Makkah for performing Hajj and appointed Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ as the Ameer-ul-Hajj.