Islam has always encouraged people to be active in order to be positive and beneficial in their lives. If people express endeavor and vitality, they would be able to benefit others as well as themselves. Islam rejects an inactive life and showing laziness in work which results in economic downturn and increasing poverty in the community. There are many narrations given from the holy prophet (PBUH&HP) and his successors (PBUT) regarding encouraging to work actively in which some precious characteristics of such people have been addressed. For instance, the holy prophet (PBUH&HP) said: “worship consists of ten parts which nine parts of it relates to work and effort to achieve legitimate sustenance.” (1) Imam Kadhim (PBUH) also said in this regard: “Allah (SWT) indeed does not like an inactive person who exceedingly sleeps.”(2)
The Ahl al- Bayt of the holy prophet (PBHT) were also hard working in their personal life and modeled a great sample for their followers. Imam Kadhim (PBUH) used to work hard himself to provide daily costs for his family.
Hasan ibn Ali, one of the companions of Imam Kadhim (PBUH) narrates: “Once I saw Imam Kadhim (PBUH) in the middle of the farm he owned. His feet were soaked in sweat (due to hard work). I told him: “May I get sacrificed for you, where are the workers to work instead of you?” Imam said:” The one who was even better than me and my father used to work himself in his field.” I asked:” Who is the better one than you and your father?”
He responded: ”The holy prophet (PBUH&HP) and Amir al-Mu’minin (PBUH) and my grand fathers who they used to do their work themselves and with their own hands, since this is the tradition of all prophets, messengers, and the righteous people.
According to this narration, Imam Kadhim (PBUH) taught us the importance of effort to obtain the sustenance. He also instructed that everyone, even the owners of high status in the society should work to sustain their own independency and their families’.
(The above is a selection taken from “An analysis of the life of Imam Kadhim (PBUH)” by “Baqir Sharif Ghorashi” with minor changes)
Footnotes:
1- “Mustadrik al-Wasa’il and Mustanbit al-Masa’il”, vol. 13, p. 12
2- “Wasail al-Shia”, vol. 17, p. 58, narration# 21972 / “Osul al-Kafi”, vol. 5, p. 84, narration# 2
3- “Man la yahzarohu al-Faqih”, vol. 3, p. 53