THE DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDERS. Yaumul Ahad. 10th day of Shaw'waal, 1444AH (Sunday, 30th April 2023).

THE IMPORTANCE of HALAAL SUSTENANCE. BismilLah. 

There is no doubt that one of the obligations upon the Muslim is that he/she earns for him/herself and his family a pure and halal sustenance. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

"O People! ALLAH is al-Tayyib (Pure), and HE only accepts that which is pure! ALLAH has commanded the believers what HE has commanded the Messengers, for HE said, 'O Messengers! Eat from the pure foods, and do right,' and HE said, 'O you who believe! Eat from the pure and good foods ALLAH has given you.'"

Then the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) mentioned a traveller on a long journey, who is dishevelled and dusty, and he stretches forth his hands to the sky, saying, "O my Lord! O my Lord!" - while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully; how can he (expect to) be answered? [Reported by Ahmad (2/328), Muslim (2/703), and al-Tirmidhi (5/220) from Abu Hurayrah].

It is noticed in this hadith that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) emphasised this person's impure earnings by detailing the fact that his food, clothes, drink and nourishment were all obtained from the impure. From this hadith, we learn that both the prophets and the believers have been commanded to eat from the tayyibaat, or the pure things. Purity is achieved when one earns his sustenance in a halal manner and then uses it to buy halal food. So, if a person buys pure food from stolen money, this will not be accepted from him. Likewise, if one earns money from permissible means, then uses it to buy impermissible items, such as intoxicants, this too will not be accepted from him. Only when both of these conditions have been met - the way one earns money and the way one spends it - will ALLAH'S acceptance be gained. 

May ALLAH protect us from Haraam sustenance. Aameen.