Amr Khaled: 3 keys to provision, 3 reasons that prevent provision, and 3 reasons that increase it
Live the psychology of the wealthy and thrive.. and do not live the psychology of the poor, lest you become needy (A Quranic prescription)
Why did God link the gaining of provision with striving?
What are you talented in?.. Surah An-Nahl teaches you how to earn Halal money.
Khaberni - Islamic preacher Dr. Amr Khaled reveals the map of provision in the Quran, which helps you in gaining provision, and earning money which is referred to in the Quran as "your property which Allah has made a means of support for you" without you being afflicted by worry or grief.
He said in the sixth episode of his Ramadan program "Guide - A Journey with the Quran" that the Quran holds your hand to teach you everything about provision, and how you can accumulate wealth through three things, namely:
Firstly: to reassure you that your provision is in the hands of God alone, and no human can withhold it from you, so do not fear.
Secondly: there are three different models, each connected to a Surah in the Quran.
Thirdly: there are three obstacles to provision. If you avoid them, your provision will increase.
Provision comes from God alone
Khaled explained that provision is mentioned in the Quran 123 times, all linked to the notion that provision comes solely from God, as whenever provision is mentioned, it is accompanied by the majestic name of Allah, "Allah extends provision to whoever He wills and measures it," "And provision from your Lord is better and more lasting".
He cautioned against seeking wealth through forbidden means, humiliating oneself to others for the sake of provision, or regretting a missed provision, emphasizing that the purpose of the Quran: to save you from worry and grief; for provision comes from God, and do not cease striving, "And in the sky is your provision and what you are promised. So by the Lord of the heaven and earth, it is certainly the truth, as true as the fact that you speak".
Khaled also mentioned that provision is linked to striving, for it cannot be obtained without it, otherwise you will sin and be punished: "It is He who has made the earth manageable for you—so traverse its regions and eat from His provision—and to Him is the resurrection".
3 keys to provision
He noted that there are three keys to provision in three Surahs of the Quran, as follows:
The first model: Surah An-Nahl, which revolves around provision and how to gain it: "And your Lord inspired the bee, saying, 'Take for yourself among the mountains, houses, and among the trees and [in] what they construct. Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you]. There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought'".
He said that the bee is inspired... an internal inspiration, and its talent lies in producing honey, and the bee does not begin its journey of provision until it has established its first home in elevated fortified places "from the mountains, houses, and from the trees and what they construct"; God did not give it a ready-made house but asked it to set up a home from the distant elevated mountains.
And he presented the recipe for gaining provision as included in Surah An-Nahl, as follows:
Focus on your talent
Fully digest your expertise and talent
Connect your talent to the needs of people
Strive diligently and with dedication
The result: you will achieve wealth.
Surah of provision in the Quran
As for the second model of provision as Khaled elucidates, it is embodied in Surah Adh-Dhariyat, identifying it as the Surah of provision in the Quran, which includes the divine cycle of provision, and assures that regardless of any downturn in human life, you should throw yourself into this divine cycle, and you will receive your provision.
Divine cycle of provision
Khaled presented a simple explanation of the divine cycle of provision as mentioned in Surah Adh-Dhariyat:
-"And [by] the scatterers [of seeds] scattering": the winds that carry seeds and move them from one place to another preparing for production and agriculture (symbolizing raw materials and trade).
-"And those carrying a load [of water]": the clouds that carry heavy water, rains down on the seeds shifted by the wind causing abundant good to sprout (symbolizing the production process: agriculture – industry).
-"And those flowing with ease": ships that carry goods from the cultivated products to deliver them to the buyers (symbolizing the marketing process - transport, shipping, and storage construction).
-"And those apportioning by command": the angels assigned to divide the provision after this divine process.
Surah Al-Waqia and provision
And Khaled highlighted the third model of provision, (Surah Al-Waqia), which is more spiritual than material, stating that living with the mentality of the wealthy generates hope, optimism, and striving with lightness and vigor, whereas the mentality of poverty brings poverty because it breeds frustration, despair, lethargy, laziness, and dullness.
What if the provision is delayed?
Khaled said that Surah Al-Waqia changes your view of provision, as money is the last page in the book of provision, explaining that the Surah opens your eyes to wide provisions beyond money, so if you view provision only as money, you need to broaden your view of provision.
He mentioned that Surah Al-Waqia protects against poverty, quoting the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him: "Whoever reads Surah Al-Waqia every day will never be in need", and need signifies poverty.
3 obstacles to provision
Khaled detailed that there are three reasons that prevent you from receiving provision, and may even lead you to poverty:
The first: failing to give thanks to God for His blessings, for the verse says: "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]", and the opposite is true—you will be deprived of provision if you do not give thanks for His blessings.
The second: lacking reverence for God "And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect".
The third: envying people for what God has given them from his grace "Say, 'Indeed, the grace is in the hand of Allah; He grants it to whom He wills. And Allah is all-encompassing, all-knowing'".
3 reasons that increase provision
Conversely, Khaled clarified that there are three reasons that increase provision:
The first: seeking forgiveness: "So I 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'."
The second: reverence for God: "And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out * will provide for him from where he does not expect and whoever relies on Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has set a measure for everything".
The third: charity: "Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him and he will have a noble reward?".
Watch the episode:
