Earning a Living

Running to another’s assistance is a great religious duty Abdullah ibn Abbas was once in retreat (i’tikaf) in the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah, when a man, who was clearly in trouble, came and sat beside him. When Abdullah ibn Abbas asked him what was the matter, he said, “I owe a man some money, and by him who lies in this grave, I am unable to pay him back.” “Shall I speak to your creditor on your behalf?” asked Abdullah ibn Abbas. The man approved of this suggestion, and Abdullah ibn Abbas at once set off. “Perhaps you have forgotten you are in retreat,” the man called after him. “No, I have not forgotten,” replied ibn Abbas, “but I have heard the words of the one who lies buried here-and it seems just like yesterday that he uttered them. I heard the Prophet say that running to the assistance of one’s brother and doing one’s utmost to help him is better than remaining twenty years in retreat. (AL-BAYHAQI, AL-SUNAN AL-KUBRA)