Al-Rizk Just Distribution of Income

[Sister of Faith]

Al-Asfahany (died 508A.H.) illustrated that, linguistically, al-rizk is current bestowal (pertinent to either the mundane world or the Hereafter), or share, or what reaches stomach as nutrition. Also, it is said that the sultan gave rizk (ration) to the soldiers. It is an attainment, like when it is said I acquired (through al-rizk) knowledge.
Al-rizk in the Arabs' speech is share and share is man's portion. It was alleged that al rizk is all things eaten or used, but this is null because Allah ordains us to spend money from al-rizk what He has bestowed us. Therefore, if it is what is eaten, then we will not be able to spend from it. Others said that al-rizk is what is owned or possessed, while man asks Allah to send him the rizk of a good child or wife. Both are not possessed or owned. Allah says:

{O ye who believe! spend out of (the bounties) we have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining (will avail), nor friendship nor intercession. Those who reject faith are wrong-doers.} [2:254]

The Prophet (PBUH) says: "An urban man should not sell to a Bedouin (only), let Allah provide (al-rizk bounties) people from each other."

Allah created man providing him with al-rizk and means to its attainment. All the world is subordinated to man whether he likes it or not. Even what is produced by cattle and tree fruits is included in his possession. It is transferred from one generation to another whether people like it or not.
The economists consider al-rizk (income) flowing continuously throughout the year whereas money (wealth) is a sort of balance which is calculated in a certain time, e.g. towards the end of the year. Thus, the term expenditure or spending is used for al-rizk (income) for its continuity.
The abundance of al-rizk or its narrowness does not indicate honor or humiliation, since the mundane world is a place of trail and not a place of reward like the Hereafter.
Allah says:

{Verily thy God doth provide sustenance (al-rizk) in abundance for whom He pleaseth and provideth in a just measure}[17:30]

Honor resides in deed as the believer gratefully thanks Allah in prosperity and is patient in time of narrowness and hardship. On the contrary, the wrong-doer thinks that prosperity and abundance is honor, while [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]rdliness in al-rizk (bounties) is a kind of humiliation.

{Now, as for man, when his God trieth him, giving him honour and gifts, then he saith he (puffed up) "My God hath honoured me" * But when He trieth him, restricting his subsistence for him, then saith he (in despair) "My God humiliated me"}[89:15-16]

Al-rizk in Islam is not restricted to material earning and sensuous satisfaction like in positivism, but rather it encompasses spiritual and intellectual satisfaction, responding to spiritual needs.
Mentioned by Ibn Manzor (died 711A.H.), there are therefore, two kinds of al-rizk: one is displayed for the body as food, while the second is latent for the hearts and selves like knowledge and sciences.
In Al-Taftazany's view (died 793A.H.) striving for al-rizk is a must in time of need, desirable for improving living standards and permissible for getting richer, but without committing any forbidden deed like seizure, theft or adultery.
To earn a living is the system under which the world operates. In order for the world to survive until a certain time as ordained by Allah, people should earn their living and if they abstain from such an act they will be destroying and breaking the rules of the world existence.
To work and earn a living for the family is one of the most important duties. Because accumulating wealth and love of money are already innate human instincts, Allah did not make the duty of earning a living a manifest religious obligation like prayers, pilgrimage and paying alms.Furthermore, this duty protects us from others' harm and from beggary. Moreover, accumulating money deters fellow man from looking at the money of one another.
By: Yousuf Kamal

 

[TG123]

Al-Asfahany (died 508A.H.) illustrated that, linguistically, al-rizk is current bestowal (pertinent to either the mundane world or the Hereafter), or share, or what reaches stomach as nutrition. Also, it is said that the sultan gave rizk (ration) to the soldiers. It is an attainment, like when it is said I acquired (through al-rizk) knowledge.
Al-rizk in the Arabs' speech is share and share is man's portion. It was alleged that al rizk is all things eaten or used, but this is null because Allah ordains us to spend money from al-rizk what He has bestowed us. Therefore, if it is what is eaten, then we will not be able to spend from it. Others said that al-rizk is what is owned or possessed, while man asks Allah to send him the rizk of a good child or wife. Both are not possessed or owned. Allah says:

{O ye who believe! spend out of (the bounties) we have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining (will avail), nor friendship nor intercession. Those who reject faith are wrong-doers.} [2:254]

The Prophet (PBUH) says: "An urban man should not sell to a Bedouin (only), let Allah provide (al-rizk bounties) people from each other."

Allah created man providing him with al-rizk and means to its attainment. All the world is subordinated to man whether he likes it or not. Even what is produced by cattle and tree fruits is included in his possession. It is transferred from one generation to another whether people like it or not.
The economists consider al-rizk (income) flowing continuously throughout the year whereas money (wealth) is a sort of balance which is calculated in a certain time, e.g. towards the end of the year. Thus, the term expenditure or spending is used for al-rizk (income) for its continuity.
The abundance of al-rizk or its narrowness does not indicate honor or humiliation, since the mundane world is a place of trail and not a place of reward like the Hereafter.
Allah says:

{Verily thy God doth provide sustenance (al-rizk) in abundance for whom He pleaseth and provideth in a just measure}[17:30]

Honor resides in deed as the believer gratefully thanks Allah in prosperity and is patient in time of narrowness and hardship. On the contrary, the wrong-doer thinks that prosperity and abundance is honor, while [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]rdliness in al-rizk (bounties) is a kind of humiliation.

{Now, as for man, when his God trieth him, giving him honour and gifts, then he saith he (puffed up) "My God hath honoured me" * But when He trieth him, restricting his subsistence for him, then saith he (in despair) "My God humiliated me"}[89:15-16]

Al-rizk in Islam is not restricted to material earning and sensuous satisfaction like in positivism, but rather it encompasses spiritual and intellectual satisfaction, responding to spiritual needs.
Mentioned by Ibn Manzor (died 711A.H.), there are therefore, two kinds of al-rizk: one is displayed for the body as food, while the second is latent for the hearts and selves like knowledge and sciences.
In Al-Taftazany's view (died 793A.H.) striving for al-rizk is a must in time of need, desirable for improving living standards and permissible for getting richer, but without committing any forbidden deed like seizure, theft or adultery.
To earn a living is the system under which the world operates. In order for the world to survive until a certain time as ordained by Allah, people should earn their living and if they abstain from such an act they will be destroying and breaking the rules of the world existence.
To work and earn a living for the family is one of the most important duties. Because accumulating wealth and love of money are already innate human instincts, Allah did not make the duty of earning a living a manifest religious obligation like prayers, pilgrimage and paying alms.Furthermore, this duty protects us from others' harm and from beggary. Moreover, accumulating money deters fellow man from looking at the money of one another.
By: Yousuf Kamal

Thank you for sharing that, Sister of Faith. Jesus promised His followers something really interesting on this earth:

Mark 10:29,30

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

Notice how none of this stuff involves material riches. When people become Christians, they join the body of Christ. Christians in the Book of Acts shared everything with each other, and would open their homes to one another.

Christ told His followers they will be rejected because of their faith, and as reward they will enter a community of believers... and will feel persecutions from those who hate and mock and despise them because of their faith.

The rewards on earth aren't the "health and wealth" crap preached by many churches. They are community and service and suffering.

In Heaven, the reward is eternal life.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

Now that we've heard two contrary positions on this question, allow me to offer a third:

There's nothing wrong with desiring (and reveling in) accomplishments, or making an effort to improve your quality of life. Even money - as a mere symbolic stand-in for goods and services that are exchanged - is not a bad thing by default.

HOWEVER, the last thirty years have brought us a strange social phenomenon in the West: an approach to life, society and the "career" that basically favours narcissism and anti-social impulses. An approach that boils down to a genuine plutocracy, a "socialism for the rich", and a market system that allows people to grow rich very quickly by DESTROYING businesses.

We've idolized the concept of financial success and abundant wealth for such a long time that we no longer care how it is achieved - as long as your bank account is brimming with dollars, you are considered a "winner", even if your capital is the direct result of the deliberate destruction of jobs, livelihoods and communities.

The group of engineers and workers building a new well in the desert.
The ingenious entrepeneur creating a new company around a brilliant idea.
The kindergarten teacher helping to raise a new generation:
all these and many others deserve to be admired, and it's good if they derive joy from what they do - and they deserve to be financially successful.

But these are not the people who usually end up at the top of the career ladder in our current society, neither in terms of their financial reward nor in terms of their social prestige.

 

[TG123]

Now that we've heard two contrary positions on this question, allow me to offer a third:

There's nothing wrong with desiring (and reveling in) accomplishments, or making an effort to improve your quality of life. Even money - as a mere symbolic stand-in for goods and services that are exchanged - is not a bad thing by default.

HOWEVER, the last thirty years have brought us a strange social phenomenon in the West: an approach to life, society and the "career" that basically favours narcissism and anti-social impulses. An approach that boils down to a genuine plutocracy, a "socialism for the rich", and a market system that allows people to grow rich very quickly by DESTROYING businesses.

We've idolized the concept of financial success and abundant wealth for such a long time that we no longer care how it is achieved - as long as your bank account is brimming with dollars, you are considered a "winner", even if your capital is the direct result of the deliberate destruction of jobs, livelihoods and communities.

The group of engineers and workers building a new well in the desert.
The ingenious entrepeneur creating a new company around a brilliant idea.
The kindergarten teacher helping to raise a new generation:
all these and many others deserve to be admired, and it's good if they derive joy from what they do - and they deserve to be financially successful.

But these are not the people who usually end up at the top of the career ladder in our current society, neither in terms of their financial reward nor in terms of their social prestige.

Good points, JanetheBane. Let me maybe clarify my position a bit. The Bible does not say it is evil to earn money, it is evil however to allow it to become your god. History and present reality shows what happens when it does.

I think it is okay to be glad with your accomplishments, but instead of reveling them I would thank God for what He has allowed me to achieve.

I am not sure if the narcissism and antisocial impulses you describe are that new of a thing in the West, though. What do you think was going through the heads of the kings and traders and church officials who planned and implemented the conquest, and in the process the displacement, disenfranchisement and in some cases genocide of people on this continent? (I am going to assume you are also from North America, if not I apologize but bear with me). Or the minds of the slave owners and settlers? What do you think was going through the factory owners during the Industrial Revolution who paid people like dirt and allowed children to be worked to death in their factories?

The engineers, entrepreneur and kindegarten teacher are awesome examples of people using their skills to benefit society. They have every right to feel glad about what they are doing. I see nothing wrong with them being paid well, and you are correct, these aren't the people who end up on top usually.

As a substitute teacher, I have a job that is very rewarding, and I do enjoy a lot of respect from kids I work with (usually) and from teachers I am replacing, those especially in more challenging classrooms who don't always have subs who want to watch their students. The money I make is enough, although it isn't a lot. However, I wouldn't say I 'deserve' to be admired, or that I should be paid more than I am being paid. My job, as much as I love it, does not define me and it doesn't make me a better person than anyone else. My faith is the only thing that really matters to me, and living it out in the way I treat other people and situations around me.

 

[SeventhValley]

Reminds me of

"Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: "Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.""--2 Thessalonians 3:10

Or the Baha'i

O people of Bahá! It is incumbent upon each one of you to engage in some occupation—such as a craft, a trade or the like. We have exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship of the one true God. Reflect, O people, on the grace and blessings of your Lord, and yield Him thanks at eventide and dawn. Waste not your hours in idleness and sloth, but occupy yourselves with what will profit you and others. Thus hath it been decreed in this Tablet from whose horizon hath shone the day-star of wisdom and utterance. The most despised of men in the sight of God are they who sit and beg. Hold ye fast unto the cord of means and place your trust in God, the Provider of all means.-Baha'u'llah

 

[Rationalt]

Distribution of income.That is a good concept which Muslims or muhammad have chosen to execute by loooting and slave trading.

Criminal war lords take care of their followers by distributing the fruits of their criminal enterprise.
Like wise muhammad and his followers took care of their brethern by looting and enslaving(And slave trading) Unbelievers.