Ar-Razzaaq

When the word Rizq is used, one tends to understand foodstuff by it. But it has a vaster meaning than that because Rizq comprehends everything that a creature takes benefits from and make uses of. In this sense, Rizq does not only refer to food and drink, but also to the air that a creature inhales, his courage, his energy and the wealth that he possesses. And all this is granted and furnished by solely one Being, Allah Ta'ala. In relation to this, one calls Allah Ta'ala Ar-Razzaaq. And by this, one understands that there is no one who can be called Ar-Razzaaq except Allah Ta'ala.

"And there is nothing which crawls on earth whose sustenance does not rest on Allah Ta'ala..." (S11 / V6) 

By this, we understand that just as Allah Ta'ala grants the poorest person everything that he needs, likewise, the greatest of kings also needs Allah Ta'ala for his needs. No one is independent of Allah Ta'ala. There is no one who is independent in providing himself the smallest of things to such an extent that one needs Allah Ta'ala for that little energy that one requires to blink one's eyes. This calls upon us to knock at His door for all our needs. It is a door that stays open 24/7 regardless of the season and climate. It is a door which is most certain and most guaranteed. The effort that a person does for worldly matters, much more effort is required for Aakhirah in the form of Dua and Istighfar because any trust that one may have in any means, is not more than a sand castle that can be destroyed any time by the wave of the sea.

That is why one's only recourse is Allah Ta'ala who has everything that one needs and who can give one everything that one needs at any time of the day or night. There are several ways that a person may adopt to earn a living to fulfil his needs and that of his family. But the most effective and the most certain way for a person to get what he needs easily is Taqwa or obedience to Allah Ta'ala. Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'aan:

"And if the inhabitants of these towns had believed and were obedient, then without doubt We would have opened to them (the door of all kind of) blessings from the sky and the earth..." (S7 / V96)

And Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "...And it is not possible to acquire whatever is by Allah Ta'ala except through his obedience."

According to a Hadith of Abu Daawud, a person who continues to ask Allah for forgiveness gets whatever he needs in an unexpected way. It seems that Insaan is confused in looking for solutions to solve economic problems and other problems in general. And the behaviour of Insaan shows that it is more probable that the problem will remain unresolved or solved to a certain level but by creating another problem which is more serious than it or similar to it. This is because the greatest factor in all this is one's disobedience and the only solution is obedience which Insaan does not seem to have the will to implement in order to get a remedy. Thus, our economic problem or any other problem will not be solved as it should, and without a side effect as long as one does not submit to Allah Ta'ala who is Ar-Razzaaq.

"Verily, it is Allah Himself who is Ar-Razzaaq (the Sustainer) ..." (V58 / S51)

 [English version of "AR-RAZZAAQ" – Al Jamiat – Vol.6 No.2]