al-Rizq Abwabuhu wa Mafatihuhu
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- Dār al-Qāsim
al-Rizq Abwabuhu wa Mafatihuhu (Sustenance: Its Doors and Keys) is an Islamic devotional treatise by the contemporary Saudi author Abd al-Malik ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Qasim focusing on the theological understanding of sustenance (rizq), the virtues of lawful earning, and the spiritual means of acquiring divine provision .
Purpose and Context
The treatise was composed as the twenty-first installment in the author's booklet series titled Ayna Nahnu min Ha'ula' ("Where Are We in Comparison to These People?") . In the introduction, al-Qasim states that God apportions sustenance among His servants according to His wisdom and justice, citing the Quranic verse: نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ مَعِيشَتَهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ("We have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world") . He explains that he compiled the work because of the gravity of wealth and the accountability awaiting each person regarding how it was earned and spent .
Structure and Content
The book opens with an introductory section (madkhal) establishing that Islam obligates seeking a livelihood (al-iktisab) to assist in worship and obedience, citing Quran 62:10 and traditions emphasizing industriousness and self-sufficiency over begging . The author clarifies that wealth is not blameworthy in itself; rather, blameworthiness arises when it distracts from religion, is acquired through unlawful (haram) channels, or is spent improperly . Earning a living is framed as especially mandatory for those with dependents, citing prophetic hadiths on the reward of providing for one's family .
The core of the treatise examines the primary spiritual causes and keys to divine provision (asbab al-rizq), distinguishing genuine reliance on God (tawakkul) from passive fatalism (tawakul) . Key factors identified include:
- God-fearing piety (taqwa): adhering to divine commands, which opens blessings from the heavens and the earth .
- Repentance and seeking forgiveness (al-istighfar wa-al-tawbah): drawing upon the Quranic accounts of Noah and other prophets regarding the material and spiritual fruits of forgiveness .
- Abandoning sins and disobedience: avoiding transgressions that deprive a servant of provision in this life and the hereafter .
Method and Sources
The author relies extensively on Quranic verses, prophetic hadiths, and narrations from early Muslim scholars and ascetics (al-salaf), including Umar ibn al-Khattab, Sufyan al-Thawri, Ayyub al-Sakhtiyani, Said ibn al-Musayyab, Abu Sulayman al-Darani, and Ibn Qudamah . He also illustrates the scruples (wara') of earlier generations with historical anecdotes, such as Abu Hanifah's integrity in trade and pricing .
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