Your provision will not deceive you
O you who fear for your livelihoods, fear Allah above all else, and know that “And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised. So by the Lord of the heaven and the earth, indeed, it is truth – just as you speak.” (Adh-Dhariyat: 22-23). What is with people will be exhausted, but what is with Allah remains. Our provisions, whether abundant or meager, will not surpass their divinely appointed measure. There is nothing better than placing one’s trust in Allah and maintaining a good opinion of Him. Indeed, Allah is according to the opinion His servants have of Him. Let us reflect on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “If you were to rely on Allah with true reliance, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds: they go out in the morning hungry and return in the evening full.”
How well said Al-Shafi’i:
“Turn to the fear of Allah, if you are heedless;
Provisions will come to you from where you do not expect.
How can you fear poverty when Allah is the Provider?
He has already provided for the sparrow and the fish in the sea.
Whoever believes that provision comes through force
Will find that the sparrow, one day, ate alongside the eagle.”
Praise be to Allah, for provision is in the hands of Allah, the Provider. Had provisions been in the hands of people, some would have oppressed others.
It is narrated that Urwah bin Adhina entered the presence of Hisham bin Abdul-Malik during his caliphate. Hisham said to him: “Are you not the one who said:
‘I know well that extravagance is not part of my nature;
That which is my provision will surely come to me.
I strive for it, and the effort to seek it burdens me.
Had I remained seated, it would have come to me without burden.
And I see you have come from the Hijaz to Syria in search of provision!’”
Urwah replied: “May Allah increase you in knowledge, O Commander of the Faithful. You have excelled in admonition and reminded me of something time had made me forget.” He then immediately left, mounted his mount, and headed toward the Hijaz.
That night, Hisham recalled Urwah and said: “A man from Quraysh spoke wisdom, came to me, and I rebuked him, turning him away from his need. Yet he is a poet, and I fear what he might say.” When morning came, Hisham inquired about him and was informed of his departure. Hisham said: “By Allah, let him know that his provision will come to him, just as he said.” He then summoned one of his slaves, gave him two thousand dinars, and instructed him: “Go to him and give him this money.”
The slave went to Medina, knocked on Urwah’s door, and Urwah came out. The slave handed him the money. Urwah said: “Convey to the Commander of the Faithful my message: ‘I strove and exerted myself, but when I returned to my home, my provision came to me.’”
In conclusion, as long as we know that our lifespans and provisions are written and accounted for, let us cast aside anxiety about them and focus on what brings benefit in this life and the Hereafter. May you remain safe and sound.
