وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَحْتَسِبُ “And whosoever is...
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَحْتَسِبُ “And whosoever is God-wary (observes piety) He would make for him a way out [from difficulties] and Bestow on him sustenance from whence he expects not…” Chapter Nūh - 71:10-12: فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا. يُرْسِلِ السَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا.
وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ أَنْهَارًا “Then I said: seek forgiveness from your Lord, [for] indeed He is the Most-forgiving; He would send down abundance of rain upon you; and aid you with wealth and sons; and make for you gardens and make for you rivers.” These verses inform the human being about the best path of ensuring sustenance and avoiding the calamity of hunger.
If the culture of taqwā and istighfār (in its various manifestations and dimensions] were to prevail, hunger would no more be a predicament save in cases of Divine trial. وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ... “And We would certainly try You with somewhat of fear and hunger…” [^2] We also have many traditions that guide the hungry and the destitute, as well those who would like to disseminate the culture of independence, about the ways of achieving sustenance.
Following are some examples: Increasing Sustenance Imām al-Sādiq (as) is reported to have said[^3]: إِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَزِيدُ فِي الرِّزْقِ. “Indeed, virtuousness increases sustenance.” Imām al-Sādiq (as) is reported to have said ^4 : حُسْنُ الْخُلْقِ يَزِيدُ فِي الرِّزْقِ. “Good behaviour ( akhlāq ) increases sustenance.” The Holy Prophet (s) is reported to have said ^5 : دُمْ عَلى الطَّهَارَةِ، يُوَسَّعُ عَلَيْكَ فِي الرِّزْقِ.
“Always be in the state of tahāra (purity) and your sustenance shall be increased.” Therefore, the duty of those who sincerely utter this verse of the supplication, besides actively supporting others, should be to educate them to realize the direct causes of hunger. The esteemed author of Mir’ātu’l Kamāl , the late Āyatullāh al-Shaykh Māmaqānī has filled six pages full of reasons that cause poverty and hamper one’s sustenance.
References have also come in the gloss of a later edition of this three-volume opus of devotions. Those interested can look at pages 569-583.
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