The Teachings of Islam
Making a Living
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MAKING A LIVING
A believer should look at his means of subsistence
as a necessity; he should never make these means
his goal in life. His objective should be eternity, and
worldly things should be just the bare necessities.
The difference between believers’ and unbelievers’
attitudes to the world is essentially one of priorities.
Unbelievers aim to make as much money as
possible: believers should aim to make a living as
honestly as they can. Unbelievers expect their
careers to pave the way to the fulfillment of their
ambitions: believers should merely seek to be
independent of others. Unbelievers live on a
mundane plane—they want to receive their
earnings in this world. Believers live on an other-
worldly plane and wish to see their efforts
rewarded in eternity. They are just filling in time in
this world. Their ambitions will be fulfilled in the
next.
Making a living is a matter of crucial importance to
every individual. No one is exempt from the
struggle for subsistence. Islam simply makes sure
that it remains a matter of necessity and does not
