The Guarantee of Sustenance and How to Seek It

Friends, many of us are currently experiencing anxiety in life, where the cost of living is becoming increasingly unaffordable, such as the costs of clothing, food, housing, education, healthcare, and other expenses whose prices are soaring day by day. Given these issues, we are now required to strive more diligently and intelligently to meet life's necessities by seeking as much material sustenance as possible. Many of us resort to various methods to acquire wealth; they are willing to do anything, even going so far as to justify all means, because they believe, “forget seeking wealth through lawful means, even unlawful means are difficult nowadays.” Friends, as believers who trust in Allah, the author invites everyone reading this, including myself, to collectively believe that Allah will not cause any loss to those who believe and trust in His promises. As believers, we should seek sustenance within the norms and rules established by Allah. Friends, here the author wishes to invite, especially myself and anyone reading this, to reflect together on a verse from the Quran, which teaches us, as believers who trust in Allah, not to worry or be anxious about our sustenance. For Allah has said: “And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its dwelling place and its depository. All is in a clear register.” (Hud: 6) Friends, from the verse above, it is clear that Allah has provided sustenance for all His creatures. Based on this verse, the author invites anyone reading this and believing in the verse not to worry or be anxious about matters related to sustenance, because Allah has guaranteed it. Friends, the author also wishes to invite readers to learn together how we can obtain and expand our sustenance in accordance with the guidance of the Quran, because Allah has provided sustenance for His creatures, and our duty as creatures is to strive to seek it. Friends, even though sustenance has been decreed by Allah, the Prophet still commanded us to improve our methods of seeking it. Because if we know how to increase (the abundance of) sustenance, we will be upright in seeking it, balanced in our pursuit, have the doors of mercy opened to us, increase our reliance on Allah (tawakkul), strengthen our worship, and be able to refine our approach to seeking sustenance. Some ways to seek sustenance in the Quran. Friends, as we know, the Quran is a guide for us in living life. All the rules that will make humans live happily in this world and the hereafter are contained within it, including how we should seek or expand our sustenance. Friends, here the author wishes to invite all who believe and trust in the miraculousness of the Quran to reflect together on the verses related to how we should seek or expand our sustenance. 1. Seek Much Forgiveness Friends, Allah says: “And [Noah] said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord; indeed, He is ever Forgiving. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers and give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.'” (Noah 10 – 12) “And [Hud said], 'O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and add strength to your strength, and do not turn away, being criminals.'” (Hud: 52) Friends, from the two verses above, Allah illustrates through His Messengers, Prophets Hud and Noah, who called upon their people to seek forgiveness from Allah to obtain sustenance, which is depicted in the verses as rainfall, gardens, wealth, and children, all of which bring goodness and benefit. Friends, why are we commanded to always seek forgiveness from Allah to expand our sustenance? Because perhaps the difficulties or scarcity of sustenance we experience are a result of the mistakes or sins we have committed. 2. Maintain Piety Friends, Allah says: “And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect.” (At-Talaq: 2-3) Friends, from the verse above, Allah has clearly stated that with piety, a person will not become poor. For Allah will grant him sufficiency, both outwardly and, more significantly, inwardly, when a person truly fears Allah. Friends, perhaps many of us define sustenance as the abundance of possessions we own. Here, the author wishes to invite readers to slightly change their perspective on the definition of sustenance: sustenance is everything Allah has given us, and we feel content with it. Friends, this is the essence of sufficiency, meaning a person will feel tranquil with little and feel more with what others consider lacking. 3. Be Grateful for His Blessings Friends, Allah says: “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.'” (Ibrahim: 7) Friends, the definition of gratitude is praising Allah with the tongue, acknowledging in the heart that all blessings come from Allah, and utilizing or using what has been given to us in the way of Allah. 4. Remain Steadfast in Religion Friends, Allah says: “And [Allah revealed] that if they had remained straight on the way [of Islam], We would have given them abundant water to drink.” (Al-Jinn: 16) Friends, in the verse above, Allah clearly states that when we remain steadfast on Allah's path, Allah will provide sustenance for us, which in the verse is depicted as water. Friends, there are many more verses regarding how we can seek and expand our sustenance according to the Quran. Perhaps by practicing the verses the author has presented above, our lives will attain happiness, and Allah will expand our sustenance and grant us the blessing to continuously feel grateful and content with what we possess. Truth comes from Allah, ignorance comes from the author, and error comes from Satan. Let us embrace the truth, forgive me, and blame Satan. Wassalam, Sapto Kridayanto