International Workers’ Day: An Islamic Tribute to Lawful Work

Introduction

In Islam, work and workers hold a sacred and dignified status. The pursuit of lawful (Halal) sustenance is not only a necessity of life but also a deeply spiritual responsibility, regarded as one of the greatest forms of worship. To mark International Workers’ Day, we reflect on a profound hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that highlights the importance of lawful striving in every aspect of life.

This hadith invites us to a broader understanding: sustenance is not limited to wealth alone but includes knowledge, relationships, character, and spiritual well-being — all of which must be pursued through halal (lawful) means.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

العِبادَةُ سَبعُونَ جُزء افضَلُِها طَلَبُ الحَلالِ

“Worship consists of seventy parts, and the best of them is the pursuit of lawful sustenance.” (Al-Kafi, Volume 5, Page 78)

The educational messages of this hadith for the different groups in our Muslim society are outlined here.

Educational Messages of the Hadith for Teenagers and Youth

1. Keep Your Life Lawful (halal)

Islam teaches that every action — whether thinking, seeing, hearing, speaking, or working — must be aligned with what is halal. “طَلَبُ الحَلالِ” (the pursuit of lawful sustenance) stretches beyond money to include every experience and every decision in life. A youth who watches what they hear, see, write, and do builds a character that is protected by Allah’s pleasure and free from the stains of sin. Halal living safeguards the heart and soul, strengthening one’s path to success in both this world and the next.

Practical Challenge:

Create a daily checklist where you track your thoughts, speech, actions, and interactions, ensuring each is in line with halal principles.

2. Earn Through Halal Means

Money gained through honesty, hard work, integrity, fairness, and ethical means carries blessing, while unlawful (Haram) earnings bring darkness to one’s soul. Every young person must strive to seek Allah’s pleasure in every financial and life pursuit, remembering that Allah SWT values effort and integrity over material wealth.

Practical Challenge:

Before starting any job and work or accepting a reward, reflect: “Is this method pure and pleasing to Allah?” Write your reflections weekly.

3. Respect Honest Workers

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) uplifted the dignity of all honest workers. Worship includes the hard work of farmers, teachers, builders, and every worker who earns lawfully. Respecting those who engage in halal work is respecting a form of worship. By showing appreciation for ethical workers, youth contribute to a society where morality and hard work are valued above wealth and status. In doing so, they also inspire others to pursue their livelihoods with integrity and devotion to higher values.

Practical Challenge:

Each week, thank at least one worker sincerely for their halal efforts, whether a cleaner, a delivery person, a teacher, or a craftsman.

4. Halal Living Strengthens the Soul

Choosing halal over haram strengthens the heart, clears the conscience, and brings true inner peace. The consistency of seeking halal in food, knowledge, friendships, and income gradually builds a pure spirit that is beloved to Allah. A youth who lives this way grows into an adult of integrity, leadership, and spiritual strength. Halal living is not just a rule to follow but a secret key to personal happiness and divine closeness.

Practical Challenge:

Keep a journal where you reflect weekly on how living halal has improved your feelings, relationships, and closeness to Allah.

Educational Messages of the Hadith for Parents

1. Talk About Different Types of Sustenance

Many families speak only of financial sustenance, but true sustenance includes love, knowledge, health, and character. Parents should regularly teach their children that blessings come in many forms, and that all forms of sustenance (رزق) must be pursued lawfully. This teaching anchors the family in faith, gratitude and integrity, shaping children who are not materialistic but spiritually rich.

Practical Challenge:

Every week, share one story at the dinner table about a form of sustenance (رزق) beyond money, such as knowledge, kindness, or patience.

2. Be a Role Model of Halal

Children learn far more from what they observe than from what they are told. If parents consistently pursue lawful income, speak truthfully, and act ethically, they model “طَلَبُ الحَلالِ” in a powerful, lasting way. When parents show dedication to halal living even when it’s difficult, they demonstrate that obedience to Allah is more important than worldly gain.

Practical Challenge:

Choose one real-life situation this week where you explain to your children why you made a halal choice, even if it was harder.

3. Your Earnings Shape Your Family

The purity of the sustenance (رزق) parents bring into the home affects the body, soul, and future of every family member. Lawful earnings nurture healthy hearts and minds, while impure earnings, even if abundant, bring hidden harm. Islam teaches that spiritual health and ethical strength are fed by what we consume and how it is earned.

Practical Challenge:

Review your sources of income regularly to ensure full compliance with halal, faith, and ethical standards and make adjustments if needed.

Educational Messages of the Hadith for Imams and Religious Leaders

1. Explain Halal and Sustenance Clearly

Many listeners assume sustenance (رزق) only means wealth. It is crucial for scholars to explain that sustenance includes honour, knowledge, health, and family life and that halal living applies to all these. Clarifying this transforms people’s understanding of worship and encourages a fuller Islamic lifestyle beyond just rituals.

Practical Challenge:

Design one khutbah where you define sustenance (رزق) and halal living in practical everyday terms.

2. Share Real-Life Examples

Historical stories of those who lived by halal or haram earnings make sermons alive and relevant. Their outcomes show that lawful living brings lasting peace, while haram choices, even if successful at first, lead to suffering. Such stories, rooted in Islamic history, provide living proof of the hadith’s wisdom.

Practical Challenge:

In every sermon series, weave in at least one story about the fruits of halal and the dangers of haram.

3. Worship Includes Daily Struggles

Worship is not confined to prayer mats or mosques. The struggle to earn a halal living, gain halal knowledge, and build a halal family is itself a form of high worship. “أفضلُها طَلَبُ الحَلالِ” (the best part is seeking halal) highlights how the mundane tasks of daily life become sacred when pursued correctly.

Practical Challenge:

Offer a regular reminder to your congregation that their daily honest work is counted as worship in the sight of Allah.

4. Connect Quranic Verses

Severa Qur’anic verses like “كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ” (“Eat from the good things We have provided for you” — Surah Al-Baqarah 2:172) confirm and expand on this hadith. Showing the Quranic basis for lawful sustenance gives the message greater authority and connects worshippers directly to Allah’s words.

Practical Challenge:

Recite and explain one verse each week that supports the principles of halal living, making it relatable to everyday life.