Chapter 42: Regarding Earning (Halaal
Income)
Laws of Jurisprudence
It is Fard to earn that which is sufficient for yourself, your
family, and your dependants, and for the expenditure of those whose maintenance
is Waajib (compulsory) upon you, and for that which suffices for the fulfilment
(payment) of your debts. After this, one has the choice to either stop at this,
or he may endeavour to earn more, as a saving for his family and dependants. If
the parents of a person are needy and destitute, then it is Fard upon him to
earn so that he may provide them with that which is adequate for them (to live
on). [Alamgiri]
Law: If a person earns more
than what is adequate for him, with the intention of helping the less fortunate
and the needy and taking care of close relatives, then this is Mustahab, and
this is more virtuous than Nafil Ibaadat. If he does this, with the aim that by
having more wealth, he will be more respected and honoured, and his intention
is not pride and boastfulness, then this is Mubah, and if it is merely to hoard
wealth and for the purpose of being boastful, then it is disallowed. [Alamgiri]
Law: As for those who just
sit (idle) in Musjids and Khanqahs[1]
and spend their time doing nothing, but simply sit resigned to fate (i.e. carefree
without making any effort), whereas they are always in search of somebody who
will come over and give them something, then (in reality) they are not resigned
to fate. It was better for them to spend their time doing some constructive work.
[Alamgiri] Similarly, many people today have adopted Peeri Mureedi[2]
as a profession. They make annual trips to their disciples and pluck huge sums
of money from them, which they refer to as offerings or gifts of money. There
are also many amongst them who even go to the extent of deceiving and cheating
these unsuspecting disciples. This is impermissible.
Law: The best means of
earning is from striving in jihad. In other words, the wealth that is attained
through proceeds of jihad, but it must be necessary that he did not make jihad
for the purpose of attaining wealth, but his aim must be to Uphold the Word of
Allah. After jihad, (the best earning) is from trading, followed by Agriculture,
then Trade and craft (i.e. manufacturing). [Alamgiri]
Law: To draw threads from
the spinning wheel is the occupation of females. It is Makruh for males to draw
threads from the spinning wheel (i.e. spin fabric). [Raddul Muhtar]
Law: It is Haraam for a
person who has sufficient to eat for the day, to beg. The wealth that beggars
and mendicants gather in this manner is regarded as impure wealth. [Alamgiri]
Law: That person who stops
earning, after acquiring knowledge of Deen and the Qur’an has eaten
(demolished) his Deen. [Alamgiri] In other words, after becoming an Aalim or Qaari he sits idle
without earning, thinking that the people will look at him as an Aalim and Qaari
and thus gives him things to eat, giving him no need to earn. This is
impermissible. Now remains, the issue of taking a wage to teach the Holy Qur’an
and Knowledge of Deen and to take a job to teach this. In this regard, the Fuqaha-e-Muta’akhireen[3]
have mentioned it to be permissible. This, we have already explained in the
section on Ijaarah[4]. This is not regarded as
selling the Deen.
Law: If a person earned
through Haraam means and has passed away, and his heirs know that the wealth
belongs to so and so, then they should return it to them, and if they do not
know (whose wealth it is), then they should give it out as Sadqa. [Alamgiri]
Law: If there is doubt
regarding any wealth, then one may distribute such wealth amongst close
relatives, and he may even give it to his father or his son. In such a circumstance,
it is not necessary to give it specifically to a stranger. [Alamgiri]
[1] Khanqah refers to a Sufi Spiritual and Devotional Centre.
[2]
Peeri Mureedi in this context refers to those who have become
professional or rather commercial spiritual guides, who use the title of Peer even
though they are not deserving of this sacred station. They simply use it as a
means to earn and as a means to benefit themselves. True Peers are those who do
not pursue worldly and materialistic things, but they are the ones who spend
their lives following the Shariat-e-Mustafa, whilst commanding all those with
them to do the same.
[3] Fuqaha-e-Muta’akhireen refers to the Jurists of the Latter Era.
[4] Ijaarah refers to renting, leasing or taking on contract.
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