THE ISLAMIC WAY OF LIFE

Every member of society should consider the upholding of virtue to be an essential duty. Legitimate Livelihood Many social evils can be directly attributed to some members of society having insufficient means of livelihood or others having excess wealth. Islam urges one to earn one’s livelihood by all possible but lawful means, so that one’s essential needs are met and one stays independent. According to the Quran and Hadith, traits like greed and the desire for more, niggardliness, holding money back to centralise it in one or a few hands, are the main roots of criminal and destructive tendencies in society. That is why virtues such as contentment, moderation, simplicity, altruism, charity and sharing one’s happiness with others are highly recommended in Islam. Conversely, vices like extravagance, selfishness, monopolistic practices, exploitation, usury and other unfair means of money-making are strongly condemned and prohibited. The following are additional points with regard to one's legitimate earnings. Avoidance of transgression: God Almighty has declared in the Quran: Eat of the good things we have given for your sustenance, and do not transgress with respect to them. (20: 81) Self-reliance: One should try one’s utmost to earn one’s daily bread by one’s own efforts, without being dependent on anybody else. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said repeatedly: “The best food one has ever had is that which one has earned with one’s own hands”. (Abu Dawud) Charity: When one is fortunate enough to earn more than meeting one’s own needs, instead of being parsimonious one should extend a supporting hand to the less fortunate and the destitute. Otherwise, one’s wealth will become a curse rather than a blessing. Contentment: To attain inner peace and real happiness, one has to remain content with what one earns independently and lawfully. Inner peace and real happiness are got by being content with one’s individual and lawful earnings. The Prophet says in this respect: “Indeed he has attained eternal success and prosperity who accepted Islam, and God has filled his heart with contentment towards whatever he was given”. He also said: “A little that suffices is much better than a surfeit that causes disturbance”. (Al-Bayhaqi)