Earn with your hands

Earn with your Hands
 
The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “It is better for anyone of you to take a rope (and cut) and bring a bundle of wood (from the forest) over his back and sell it and Allah will save his face (from the Hell-Fire) because of that, rather than to ask the people who may give him or not.” (Sahih Bukhari, Book #24, Hadith #550)
 
Here the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) is giving us the key lesson to productivity and a lesson to all the unemployed young Muslim men and women out there; instead of sitting idle and doing nothing, get involved and be productive even in the most menial of tasks. For it is better that you eat from what you earn, than to eat from what others give you.
 
And here’s a little secret of success: those who are not afraid to work, not embarrassed to do the small jobs, they are the ones who will reach success and end up doing big jobs later on. This is because these people develop a unique work ethic that doesn’t look at a job whether “it’s my standard or not” but how he/she can contribute to it.
 
In another hadeeth, the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Nobody has ever eaten a better meal than that which one has earned by working with one’s own hands. The Prophet of Allah, David used to eat from the earnings of his manual labor.” (Sahih Bukhari, Book #34, Hadith #286).
 
So as long as the job and earnings are permissable and do not comprise your deen, don’t sit idle blaming the “job market” or the “economy” for your lack of action.

Two Qualities of Leadership

Two Qualities of Leadership

Source: ProductiveMuslim
 
“And when they became steadfast and believed firmly in Our revelations, We appointed from among them leaders who guided by Our command”. Surat Sajdah, Verse 24.
 
The verse above mentions two qualities that result in leadership: steadfastness and firm belief.
 
Steadfastness can be simplified to mean “discipline” in your actions and not walking astray; being able to discipline ourselves to stick firm to the path of Allah; being able to discipline ourselves to stay constantly productive, wake up early, focus on your task and not get distracted, these are the qualities of a steadfast person, and one who is a true leader. Think of any great leader you know and you will realise that they are people of great discipline in their actions and who stick firm to what they believe in and do not wander aimlessly in life.
 
The second quality mentioned in the verse is firm belief – if steadfastness meant discipline in action, then firm belief refers to discipline in belief. Your belief in Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) and His qualities should not waiver regardless of the consequences you face. One must know that as you proceed in life, your faith will be tested, but those who stick firm to their faith will be granted success and leadership, insha Allah Ta’ala, in this life and hereafter.
 
So become disciplined in your actions and become firm in your belief and you will -bi’ithnillah- have unlocked the secret of true leadership and success..