“The provisions of a person seek him out, just like his death does.”
– Abu al-Darda’ (radhi’Allahu `anhu)
Time and time again, I’ve seen how provisions have come to those whom Allah intended. And even if it seems impossible or unexpected, it still comes upon the Command of the Most High.
I’ve seen how sustenance walks in through the door for babies born into poverty with mothers worried sick just thinking about how they will feed this child along with the rest of their children. I’ve seen how that job position gets handed down to that single individual despite hundreds of people rushing towards the same role, but only he is selected. I’ve seen how business deals and transactions were almost completed but at the last minute, it was overturned and someone else takes that brand new house, car or investment. I’ve seen how people go through many marriage proposals with the certainty that each time this person is ‘the one’ only for it to end and yet someone else gets married because you see, it is tomorrow when you will see your destined spouse and not today. I’ve seen how the bread-seller brings out freshly baked bread onto the streets, but the swarm of customers somehow leave behind that loaf of bread because you see, it was written to reach your home and no-one else’s.
I’ve seen time and time again how your provisions seek you out and do not miss you by a bit, just like one day death will seek you and it will not miss you out at all.
Like the Arabic proverb says:
“What’s written for you will reach you,
Even if it be between two mountains.
And what’s not written for you will never reach you,
Even if it be between your two lips.”
Don’t worry, your provisions will come. But in the meantime, don’t stop working for it!
Salam Sister,
May I ask you for the proverb in Arabic?
Shukran.
Arabic for the saying by Abu Darda would be appreciated, too.
Thank you.
Wa `alaykumusalam wa rahmatullah
The Arabic for Abu al-Darda’s statement is: إن الرزق ليطلب العبد كما يطلبه أجله
I didn’t translate the Arabic proverb myself (it was something I remember reading), so don’t have the Arabic with me at the moment. Insha’Allah once I come across it/find it, I’ll post it up.
Actually I may have had another narration of Abu al-Darda’s statement as I don’t recall it saying ‘abd (otherwise I would’ve translated it into ‘slave’!).
Every day you leave that reminder for me…..and the Arabic proverb is just that…I also would love to see the prover written in Arabic…x
I came across another good quote that is relevant to the topic of rizq (provision)…
قال الحسن البصري (رحمه الله):
قرأتُ في تسعين موضعا من القرآن أن الله قدر الأرزاق و ضمنها لخلقه و قرأت في موضع واحد “الشيطان يعدكم الفقر”: فشككنا في قول الصادق في تسعين موضعا, و صدقنا قول الكاذب في موضع واحد.
al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allaah have mercy upon him) said:
I read in ninety places in the Qur’aan that Allaah decreed the provisions and guaranteed them to His creation, and I read in one place that “Shaitan (Satan) threatens you with poverty” (cf. 2:268): so we doubted the saying of the Most Truthful in ninety places, and we believe the saying of the liar (Shaitan) in one place.
Actually, that last part should be: “and we believed* the saying of the liar (Shaitan) in one place.”
Thank you Abd-Allah and Fajr for sharing these stunning narrations.
It’s imperative upon ya’ll to provide more Arabic-English gems for the reader as there is a growing generation of Arabic students in the West who wish to take on this Tradition but currently have limited resources and teachers capable of transmitting these stunning gems from our sacred texts.
Looking forward to more, inshallah.
I just came across this nice quote today, I hope Allaah benefits us by it:
قال الشيخ سليمان العلوان (حفظه الله) في معرض حديثه اليوم: (فتنة السراء أعظم و أشد من فتنة الضراء.. فإن المسلم في الضراء يلجأ للأعمال الصالحة و ينكب على الله لشدة تعلقه به سبحانه, طلبا لرفع المضار, و تجنبا لأسبابها, و أما في السراء فإن الإنسان أقل تعلقا بالرب, و أكثر إعتمادا على نفسه, فيكون في الضراء أقوى في التحمل, و أكثر إستعدادا, و أقدر على التجاوز..
بينما في السراء يكون ضعيف التحمل, و أقل إستعدادا, و أعجز عن التجاوز, و ذلك لأنه مستعد في الضراء, و غير مستعد في السراء, فيتفاجأ بفتنة السراء فربما غلبته فأسقطته..)
Subhan’Allah, an amazing perspective. Jazak’Allahu khayran for sharing.
Wa’iyyaki. I hope that you translate it for the non-Arabic speakers so they can benefit too insha’Allaah.
JazaakiAllaahu khayran.
yes,please do translate it for us non-native speakers!