Islam places great importance on work and encourages its followers to be active. The teachings of the Imams (peace be upon them) emphasize avoiding idleness and laziness, and to rid one’s life of slackness. It is noteworthy that not only is striving and effort to provide for one’s worldly life encouraged, but the connection between work and the afterlife is also highlighted. The Imams (peace be upon them), in addition to advising their followers to work, themselves valued hard work and never delegated this responsibility to others.
It is narrated by Abu Amr Shibani that:
One day I saw Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) wearing rough clothing, holding a hoe, and working in his garden, his whole body drenched in sweat. I thought to myself that perhaps the reason the Imam (peace be upon him) was doing this himself was because there was no one else available to help him. So I approached him and said, “Let me take the hoe from you, and I will do it.” Imam (peace be upon him) replied, “No! I like that a man should struggle and toil for his livelihood, and endure the sun’s heat.”[1]
Additionally, in the words of the Imams, the boundaries between work and worship are clearly outlined, and seclusion, neglecting social activities, and focusing solely on individual worship are discouraged.
A man who had returned from Hajj was recounting his journey and the experiences of his companions to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him). He particularly praised one of his fellow travelers: “What a noble man he was! We take pride in traveling with such a distinguished man. He was always engaged in worship, and whenever we stopped, he would go to a corner, spread his prayer mat, and dedicate himself to worship.”
Imam (peace be upon him) asked him, “Then who took care of his affairs? Who attended to his mount?”
The man replied, “Of course, the responsibility for these things fell upon us. He was solely occupied with his worship and had no concern for these matters.”
Imam (peace be upon him) said, “In that case, all of you were better than him.”
According to the teachings and practices of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him), striving to earn a lawful livelihood is one of the important aspects of a Muslim’s life. From this perspective, work not only has an economic role in providing income, but also has numerous positive effects on one’s spiritual and social well-being. Healthy work and activity contribute to mental peace, life satisfaction, preserving one’s dignity and self-respect, and provide spiritual vitality and psychological motivation. Thus, work becomes a fertile ground for the growth of virtues, while idleness fosters moral corruption.
(Adapted from the book “Dastan-e-Rastan” by Ayatollah Martyr Morteza Motahhari)
Footnote:
[1] Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 11, Page 120