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Fatwa CenterWays to overcome the fear of poverty and seeking increase in earnings
Question
Al salamu alikum,I am a 26 yo who is married Alhamdullah, no kids yet. My wife and I both work as engineers so we make a decent living alhamdullah not much but not little either. I'm always so scared of being poor or living pay check to pay check. I've always wanted to have my own business but I currently don't have enough money to fund my idea. My question is how can I deal with this constant fear of being poor or working until a very old age despite trying to invest and save money but the constant increase in life's expenses make it very hard. Please guide me on what I should to calm these thoughts down. Jazakm Allah khayran,Thank you!
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
It is desirable for a person to seek to increase his earnings and not to solely rely on a fixed salary, as it was stated in a Hadith in Sahih Muslim: “Adhere to that which is beneficial for you. Keep asking Allah for help, and do not feel helpless.”
Fear of poverty can be treated by trusting Allah, making Du`aa (supplication) frequently, seeking Allah’s forgiveness, and maintaining ties of kinship. Allah, the Almighty, says: {And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. 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.’} [Quran 71: 10-12]
The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to seek refuge (with Allah) from poverty, saying: “O Allah, I seek refuge with you from poverty, insufficiency and humiliation.” [Reported by Abu Dawood and others through an authentic chain of narrators]
It was stated in another Hadith: “He who wishes to have his earnings grow (and be blessed) and his term of life prolonged should maintain his ties of kinship.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
You can seek the help of some specialists in economic matters so that they may help you plan for a developmental investment project that you may utilize in fulfilling your aspirations.
Allah knows best.
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