I am working in one company as a civil engineer. My daily job time is totally dependent of work which daily executed. It will take 12-14 hrs a day. Now my target is to achive ilm of deen and follow it and also want to become a hafize quraan.I am also want to give time to tabligh work. but sadly I can’t do anything with my job because I could not get time for deen. what can I do? should I leave job?
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Your desire to acquire Islamic knowledge and complete the memorization of the Qur’an is highly commendable. May Allah pave your path towards such a virtuous desire with ease and comfort. Āmeen
Seeking knowledge of the basic issues of Shariah is farz and mandatory.[1] If you have that amount of knowledge, for example, how to perform wudu, ghusl, Salah, recite Quran, etc. then to seek any additional knowledge in Shariah such as memorizing the entire Quran or completing the Alim course is highly virtuous but a nafl act; whereas to work and support your wife and dependants is compulsory.[2] It is not appropriate to leave out a compulsory act and to pursue a nafl act.
As such, we advise you to continue your job and make intention to seek Allah’s pleasure while performing the tasks in your occupation. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam mentioned:
التَّاجِرُ الصَّدُوقُ الأَمِينُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّينَ، وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ، وَالشُّهَدَاءِ
“The truthful, trustworthy merchant is with the Prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs.”[3]
It is also mentioned:
إِنَّ التُّجَّارَ يُبْعَثُونَ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ فُجَّارًا، إِلاَّ مَنْ اتَّقَى اللَّهَ، وَبَرَّ، وَصَدَقَ
“Indeed the merchants will be resurrected on the Day of judgement with the wicked, except the one who has Taqwa of Allah, who behaves charitably and is truthful.”[4]
To support one’s dependants is also the order of Allah and an act of virtue. [5] If you desire to increase your Islamic knowledge, consider taking out thirty minutes daily for additional Islamic knowledge. Request an Ālim who is willing to provide some time to educate you and study under his supervision.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
AbdulMannan Nizami
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, IL, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net
[1] طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ
[سنن ابن ماجه، افتتاح الكتاب في الايمان، ج١، ص٨١، دار احياء الكتب العربية]
[2] وَالْوَالِدَاتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَادَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُتِمَّ الرَّضَاعَةَ وَعَلَى الْمَوْلُودِ لَهُ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا لَا تُضَارَّ وَالِدَةٌ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوْلُودٌ لَهُ بِوَلَدِهِ وَعَلَى الْوَارِثِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا وَإِنْ أَرَدْتُمْ أَنْ تَسْتَرْضِعُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا سَلَّمْتُمْ مَا آتَيْتُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
[سورة البقرة، الآية ٢٣٣]
[3] [جامع الترمذي، كتاب البيوع، ج٢، ص٥٠٦، دار الغرب الاسلامي]
[4] [جامع الترمذي، كتاب البيوع، ج٢، ص٥٠٦، دار الغرب الاسلامي]
[5] فَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجَتِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِضَيْفِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِصَدِيقِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا
[سنن النسائي، كتاب الصيام، ج٤، ص٢١٠، مكتبة المطبوعات الاسلامية]