Eating The Lawful

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Our provision comes from Allah alone. No one can increase it or decrease it. Knowing
this leads to honesty in our dealings, as cheating and lying cannot give us more than is coming our way. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said: “Had you relied on Allah as He should be relied upon He would provide for you as He provides for the birds; they leave the nest hungry and return satisfied.” (Tirmidhi)

We take the means to earn our living, but it is not because they govern our provision, but they are undertaken out of slavehood. Allah has cloaked the world in wisdom. Effects are connected to their causes, and undertaking these causes is acknowledging the Wisdom of Allah, obeying His commands and following the way of the Prophets.

People with responsibilities are obliged to work to fulfill their obligations. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said: “It is a sufficient sin for a man to squander those under his care.”

Eating the lawful is of the most emphasized obligations. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said: “Meat that grows from the unlawful does not enter the Garden; the Fire is more worthy of it.”

It is of the most important means to have our supplications answered. The Messenger of Allah, sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: 'Allah the Almighty is Good and accepts only that which is good. And verily Allah has commanded the Believers to do that which He has commanded the Messengers. So the Almighty has said: "O (you) Messengers! Eat of the tayyibaat [all kinds of halal (legal) foods], and perform righteous deeds." [Qur'an 23:51] and the Almighty has said: "O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you" [Qur'an 2:172] Then he mentioned [the case] of a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty, and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying "O Lord! O Lord!", while his food is haram (unlawful), his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he has been nourished with haram, so how can [his supplication] be answered?!' [Narrated by Muslim.]

May Allah expand our goodly provision and help us avoid the unlawful. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam