Huzur gave a discourse on the Divine attribute of Al Razzaq (The Provider) in his Friday Sermon today. Explaining its various meanings according to the lexicon Huzur said Razzaq is an attribute of God as He alone provides overtly and covertly for all creation. It is a word that is only really used for Allah and not for anyone else. Huzur said this is a word that is part of every day Urdu and Punjabi language in a very limited way because its meanings and connotations are extensive. According to Imam Raghib the word Rizq (provision) means what is continually granted whether it is worldly or of the Hereafter. The word is also used for a share of something as it is used for food/sustenance. Another meaning of the word Rizq is everything that is beneficial.
The word Rizq is cited abundantly in the Holy Qur’an. Allah states in Surah Hud verse 7: ‘And there is no creature that moves on the earth but it is for Allah to provide it with sustenance. And He knows its place of temporary settlement and permanent abode. All this is recorded in a clear Book.’ (11:7) Huzur said in this verse Allah has made a powerful declaration that it is Him alone Who provides. Huzur said apart from other forms of life there are million of insects inhabiting this earth and Allah has provided sustenance for them all in the earth. Huzur said indeed through research etc. it has been discovered how sustenance is provided for numerous insects but there are some creatures about which there is still no knowledge as to how they find their nourishment. Huzur said in agriculture part of the crop is used for human consumption and the rest is useful for animals and it is through Allah that everyone gets their sustenance. Whatever is granted is ‘Rizq’, including the ‘Rizq’ of the Hereafter. That particular ‘Rizq’ is only for mankind. The basis of that ‘Rizq’ is spirituality and good works. The reward of this is given in this very world while its zenith is in the Hereafter. In order to dispense the spiritual ‘Rizq’ Allah sends His Prophets, and it was through the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that Allah provided the most excellent spiritual sustenance, which will last forever. In the aforementioned verse the connotation of citing material provision and all living creations is to encourage reflection that Allah is the true Provider, Who is so kind and caring in this temporary life, why would He not then provide us ‘Rizq’ for the life that will be forever.
Allah has unfolded the ways to attain spirituality in the Holy Qur’an; spiritual sustenance which was given to us in terms of quantity as well as quality through the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The Qur’an draws attention towards valuing the spiritual sustenance because some times not valuing it can lead to depravation of material provisions.
It states in the Holy Qur’an: ‘And Allah sets forth the parable of a township which enjoyed security and peace; its provisions come to it in plenty from every quarter; but it denied the favours of Allah, so Allah made its dwellers taste a life wrapped in hunger and fear as a consequence of what they used do.’ [Surah Al Nahl verse 113] (16:113). Huzur said this is a citation of what happened in Mecca despite the prayer Hadhrat Ibrahim (on whom be peace) made for its inhabitants. However, on account of their rejection of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) the people of Mecca faced starvation and famine. As long as the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) lived among them provision would come into the town from everywhere and they did not face such a situation. After the migration of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) they faced a terrible famine and Abu Safyan came to Medina requesting the Prophet to pray for the state of hunger and fear of his ‘brethren’. The benefactor to all humanity that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was, rather than remind Abu Safyan of his dreadful persecution of Muslims, was moved and prayed for them. Allah accepted his prayers and the situation was alleviated. Indeed his enemies acknowledged that he was truthful yet they did not desist from opposition. Eventually victory of Mecca took place and they were conquered.
Huzur said today the world needs to think about the current food shortage and inflation. If a dire situation (as aforementioned) could happen earlier, it could happen again. Is the current state of affair a result of the dearth of spirituality in the world? There is a clamour of food shortage and financial crisis in USA, the most powerful and rich country of the world. This is despite the amazing agricultural development of the last fifty years with crops yielding many times over what they did decades ago. To the Muslims Allah has made it absolutely clear that it is Him Who is the Razzaq Who provides spiritual as well as material sustenance. Huzur said Muslims need to be aware of this more than the others.
In the Holy Qur’an Allah states: ‘And how many an animal there is that carries not its sustenance! Allah provides for it and for you. And He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.’ (29:61) [Surah Al Ankabut verse 61]. Here our attention is drawn to the fact that no matter what the situation is, those who do good works should be mindful to abide by Allah’s commandments and stay firm on Allah’s religion. Huzur said one should never entertain the thought that if one does not follow influential people and powerful governments one would lose one’s livelihood or sustenance. No Muslim government should ever entertain the fear that their trade or gains are associated with such and such country therefore it is OK for them to deceive other Muslim countries, as it is happening. Fear whether on an individual level or a national level that one’s sustenance is tied up with anyone besides Allah is wholly erroneous. Allah always provides for those who fulfil their honour. He is the Master of the heaven and the earth, would He not have the power to provide for those who turn to Him with sincerity?
Citing verse 63 of Surah Al Ankabut: ‘Allah enlarges the means of sustenance for such of His servants as He pleases, and straitens them for whom He pleases. Surely, Allah has full knowledge of all things.’ (29:63) Huzur said if the powerful and wealthy countries truly ‘provide’ for themselves then why is there such clamour among them of shortage? Huzur said Allah provides for the needs of a believer and also generates a sense of contentment in them. One should always only ever have the true Provider in view.
Huzur said in the age of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) one needs to specifically have a grip on reality. By virtue of the technological mass communication and mutual dependence the poor nations consider the wealthy nations the be all and end all. Allah has stated that He is the Lord of everything and everyone rather than some person of this world or some power of this world. Therefore seek refuge only of the true Lord and inculcate an insight and understanding of Him and be of those who attain spiritual sustenance.
Huzur read an extract from the noble writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in which he explains that too much dependence on one’s property, inheritance or friends is a dangerous shirk (associating partners with Allah). He said the Holy Qur’an is replete with verses exhorting that Allah undertakes to provide for the righteous. One who does not appreciate this, in fact rejects the Divine attributes by virtue of which Allah provides. The extract further elucidated the Unity of Allah.
Huzur cited ‘And in the alternation of night and day, and the provision that Allah sends down from the sky, whereby He quickens the earth after its death, and in the change of the winds, are Signs for a people who try to understand.’ (45:6) [Surah Al Jathiyah verse 6] and explained that this verse has a message in particular for the Muslims. They observe that all the developments and advances are made during the day time, similarly spiritual life has periods of darkness and of light. The time preceding the era of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was one of the darkest gloom of the spiritual kind. He was given the last Shariah and the final Book which will illumine hearts and mind till the end of time. However, the Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) said that it was destined that after him another period of darkness would come, through which the light of the perfect Shariah will continue to shine only in places. He said that it will be with the arrival of the Messiah of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that this dark spell will vanish and the whole world will be alighted, spiritual sustenance will be sent down which will revive everyone. In complete subordination of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) the Messiah (on whom be peace) will bring that spiritual light which will once again illumine the world.
Huzur said Allah has sent this spiritual light and spiritual water through the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who is a true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and it is our duty to seek its beneficence and doing so is as obligatory as it is to accept the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) because he commanded about it. Huzur said lexicons also describe Rizq as rainfall just as the aforementioned verse (45:6) signifies. Huzur said now that this spiritual water has descended there will be a long period of light, i.e. light of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) for the dissemination of which the Promised Messiah’s advent took place.
In Surah Qaf verse 12 (50:12) Allah states: ‘As a provision for Our servants; and We quicken thereby a dead land. Even so shall be the Resurrection.’ Huzur said here rainfall is cited as bringing back dead earth to life. He said indeed this can be observed in many areas of the world, as Thar in Sind, Pakistan. Regions where sandstorms blow in dry weather are transformed into green and verdant terrain after rainfall and where due to dry weather there is severe food shortage, rainfall heralds harvest and Rizq. Indeed a sensible person notices this and in his/her own way glorifies the Creator. For a Muslim the perception is that much more acute. Momentarily any religious person acknowledges that sustenance come from God but people forget. Allah is thus reminding that just as He brings life to dead earth/soil He will resurrect mankind after death when we will be held accountable for what we did in this life. If one wishes for good in the Hereafter one should do good works in this world for whatever we earn here will avail us in the Hereafter. May Allah always cover us in His mercy and forgiveness and make us tread the path that is of His pleasure and may He also give sense to those who do not accept the truth.
Citing ‘And enjoin Prayer on thy people and be constant therein. We ask thee not for provision; it is We who provide for thee. And the end is for righteous.’ (20:133) Huzur said the most excellent part of the spiritual sustenance is worship of God, in particular Salat. Huzur said we should make special arrangement for Salat in homes. Indeed Salat is also associated with the blessing of Khilafat. Huzur said in the above verse Rizq is mentioned with worship of God. Huzur explained that sometimes Rizq is obtained through unwarrantable means. To attain Allah’s blessing whereas it is essential to observe Salat it is also vital to seek pure Rizq (livelihood), in fact those who are sincere in their worship have been guaranteed to stay firm on pure livelihood.
Huzur elucidated a fine point with reference to (20:133) in the words of Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him). He said that if Allah does not ask for any provisions then why do we have to make financial sacrifices? Explaining Huzur said Allah promises to return several-fold all monetary contributions, subscriptions etc. made in His cause. Allah does not enjoin financial giving because (God forbid) He has any need, rather this is so that we may receive the return of our ‘good deed’ several-fold.
Huzur concluded on prayer that may Allah make each deed of ours attain a good end in this world and in the Hereafter and may He bestow us with His most excellent Rizq each moment.