By Ustadh Dr Adekunle Mikail
The word ‘rizq‘ in Arabic is from the root words r-z-q with the equivalent meaning in English as subsistence, wealth and sustenance!
To an average man in all climes and lands of this passing world, most of the times, the words ‘rizqu’ is all about wealth or money that he uses for the maintenance of his daily upkeeps, family goods and services!
This is the reason and glaring evidence that prods man while living in this planet to strive in his efforts to acquire wealth or increase his means of sustenance as capable as he can, forgetting that the meanings of ‘rizqu’ are broader, all- encompassing, and all-inclusive!
Wealth and sustenance are not consigned and limited to money alone but wellness, capability to be up and down, ability to live, and a host of other things are parts of what make up ‘rizq‘ in the life of a man!
In Islamic understanding , the word ‘rizqu’ is being mentioned in the glorious Qur’an 13 times and in 10 places (suwar). The 10 chapters in which the word ‘rizq‘ is mentioned are: A’raf, Nahl, Zumar, Sabai, Rome, Israil, Qasas, ‘Ankabut, Shuura and Ra’d.
In all these Suwar, the meanings and the usages upon which the word ‘Rizq‘ are employed varied! For examples in the chapters of Nahl, the meaning to which ‘rizq‘ is used is ‘gift’. We read in Nahl verse 71 as follows:
” Allah has bestowed His gifts of sustenance more freely on some of you than on others…
In Suratu Rome, ‘Rizq‘ connotes provision. The verse is read:
” See they not that Allah enlarges the provision and restricts it, to whosoever He pleases? Verily, in that are signs for those who believe”.
In suratu Qasas, it means also provision while in the chapter of Ankabut, the meaning is sustenance! We read as follows:
” For you do worship idols besides Allah, and you invent falsehood. The things that you worship besides Allah have no power to give you sustenance….’
The usages to which Allah, the Lord and Owner of the words and worlds employed the word ‘rizq‘ have enriched the understanding of the Islamic world to understand that rizq is not all about wealth, money and sustenance alone .
To Sheikh Mutawalliy Al-Sharawiy, a former grand Sheikh of Egypt, he had defined the term Rizq to include wellness, aptitude, competency, effort and human labour, provision and gifts!
Rizq or wealth to which Allah endows human includes and not limited to the Life itself, knowledge , wellness, sanity, competency, labour and aptitude. This is the reason man is known for different gifts of life. Some are blessed with long life but little wealth, some are given much wealth but little life.
In some others, we find abundant knowledge but little wealth while some have no wealth and no knowledge but long life! At other instances, some are fortunate to have long life, knowledge and wealth but little wellness while long life, wealth, knowledge and wellness are the gifts of others altogether!
What is constant in every man that lives is that when he is conditioned to lack a gift, he is bestowed with other gift. This is what is explained in the chapter of Israi in the glorious Qur’an as follows:
“Of the bounties of your Lord: We bestow freely on all – to these and that: the bounties of your Lord are not closed on anyone”
As we claimed that Allah’s favours are showered on all, – the just and unjust, the deserving and the undeserving, some will negate this claim with the question: ‘Why is inequality in the world?’
The perceived inequality in the eyes of the men is a balance and measure engrained in the living so as to bring about the positive equilibrium that temporizes the pendulum of the earth! Imagine if every living being is endowed with material wealth, children, power, competency and fine efforts, what would a humble human being in his transgression, who would be kings and subjects, what would be the use of knowledge and who would employ the competency of others he lacks, if he has been given competency in the same measures in all the things he would need as others! This is the reason for the verse of Shuura:
” If Allah were to make enlarge the provision for His servants, they would indeed transgress beyond bounds through the earth; but He sends it down in due measure as He pleases, for He is with His Servants well-acquainted, watchful!”
In the same vein as we answered the question pertaining to the perceived inequality on earth, we shall answer the question of a questioner who objected that all prayers are not answered for some were given their heart desires while some were denied!
In the first instance, not everybody whether righteous or otherwise, knows what is best for him, for the values in this life are curiously distorted; what a man thinks to be of benefit to him may turn out to be adverse to him in the long run. This is why some prayers, even of the righteous, were not answered. For if answered, they would be derailed from the straight path.
The story of Prophet Musa (Alehi salam) and Khidhr, (Alehi salam) is a pointer to this. For Musa could not quickly fathom why a righteous man of Khidhr pedigree would want to kill a handsome innocent boy they met on their journey!
Until Khidhr explained to Musa in the words of Allah as follows:
“As for the youth, His parents were people of faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude to Allah, if he had left to live…” Musa would not know that the boy was a potential parricide!
Two, on account of human want of knowledge, if everyone got all he asked for, there would be chaos and confusion and transgression beyond bounds through earth!
Three, if all are granted the request of their prayers as requested Allah may decide to reward them not in the hereafter or protect them not again in this life for the worship or prayer in form of the request made by man is used to protect him against evil here on earth, and as a reward for patience he had exuded when his prayer had not been answered and more!
Similarly, man must be wary of the kind of gift or Rizq he covets from God while living here! In the same wise, he must not suppose that all gifts are of equal value! For the spiritual ones such as faith in the creator, belief in the prophet, fitting sustenance, beneficial knowledge, being in attunement with God’s mercy etc, rank far higher in dignity and real worth than the transitory ones. Therefore it is altogether wrong to compare the worldly prosperity of a wicked man with the apparent want of it to a man of spiritual worth. There is no comparison between them when measured by right standards!
A By-line:
See how We have bestowed more (gifts) on some than on others; but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence (than this worldly life ) -Qur’an 17 vs 21