Hard Work

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The Momin dies with his sweat on his brow.” [An-Nasai]

To have sweat on one’s brow indicates labour and hard work. This means that a momin dies working. Our concepts have gotten messed up. We think that the place of recompense is this world; that once you reach a certain age you should be living in luxury, if not all your life. But where in the Quran does Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) say that a luxurious life (eeshatin raadhia) is supposed to happen anytime on earth? All of Allah’s promises of never-ending ease, of comfort to your heart’s content, unblemished happiness, freedom and plenitude, are regarding Jannah. This life is our qualifying exam to get there. As a sensible person in the middle of an exam does not say, “I’m tired of writing,” and retire from the exam, Muslims also need to realize that death is the only time of retirement for him/her.

Some girls think that the place where all their wishes should come true is their husbands’ home. Nowhere does Allah or His Messenger state this to be the case. When you get married you simply move from one exam room to another. There is an increase in the number of questions you now have to answer correctly to successfully pass the exam of life. First you had to correctly deal with your parents, siblings and other relatives. Now there is an increment in your responsibilities and you also have to correctly deal with your husband, children, in-laws, etc. The place where all your wishes will come true is only and only Jannah. It is not possible that this should happen in the temporary life of this worldly.

Hard work is considered to be one of the most important traits of Muslim men and women alike. Never shy away from work. It is your key to Jannah. If a man works to earn for his family and his wife takes care of the children and other household chores, this does not mean that either person’s work is more important or valuable than the other’s. You are both just managing different areas to efficiently run your home. Both of you contribute to this partnership, as the two wheels of a bike, so make sure that no one is treated less in any way.