10/08/2025
If there are spiderwebs in the house, is that one of the causes that lead to poverty?
you find them striving to take measures that they believe will lead to them achieving their goals, and putting all their effort into that, but they attain nothing except what Allah has decreed for them. But if they were able to put their trust in Allah wholeheartedly, He would grant them their provision with the least effort on their part, as He grants the birds their provision merely by means of their going out in the morning and returning in the evening, which is a type of taking measures and striving, but it involves minimal effort.
End quote from Jami` al-`Ulum wal-Hikam, 2/321.
Not taking appropriate measures
Allah has ordained means and measures to attain all one’s goals, and He has made working and striving a means of attaining provision. So whoever remains idle and does not strive has neglected the means of attaining provision, and thus he exposes himself to want and poverty.
Thirdly:
It is a good idea to point out some of the means that have been prescribed in order to increase provision. They include:
Seeking forgiveness
Allah, may He be Exalted, says:
{I said: Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, for verily He is Oft-Forgiving;
He will send down upon you abundant rain from the sky,
and will bestow upon you wealth and offspring, and provide you with gardens and rivers} [Nuh 71:10-12].
Upholding ties of kinship
Al-Bukhari (2067) and Muslim (2557) narrated from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever would like his rizq (provision) to be abundant and his lifespan to be extended, let him uphold his ties of kinship.”
Giving a great deal of charity
Allah, may He be Exalted, says:
{Say: Verily, my Lord grants abundant provision to whomever He wills among His slaves, or gives it in scant measure. Whatever you spend, He will compensate for it, for He is the best of providers} [Saba’ 34:39].
Muslim (2588) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Wealth never decreases because of charity.”
Fearing Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted
Allah, may He be Exalted, says:
{And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him} [At-Talaq 66:2-3].
Doing Hajj and `umrah a great deal, and doing them one after another.
At-Tirmidhi (810) narrated that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Follow one Hajj or ‘Umrah with another, for they erase poverty and sin as the bellows erases the dross of iron and gold and silver.” Al-Albani classed it as authentic.
Offering supplication (du`a’)
Ibn Majah (925) narrated from Umm Salamah that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) offered the morning prayer, when he said the salaam, he would say: “Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman nafi`an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa `amalan mutaqabbalan (O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision and accepted deeds).’” Al-Albani classed it as authentic in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah.
Then after all of that, there is the decree and absolute will of Allah, may He be Exalted. He may decree an increase in provision for some of His slaves and a decrease in provision for others, for many reasons.
Allah, may He be Exalted, says:
{Say: Verily, my Lord grants abundant provision to whomever He wills, or gives it in scant measure, but most people do not know } [Saba’ 34:36]
{It is We Who distribute their livelihood among them in the life of this world, and We raise some of them above others in ranks, so that they may serve one another. And the mercy of your Lord is better than what they accumulate [of wealth]} [Az-Zukhruf 43:32].
And Allah knows best.
