He has guaranteed their sustenance and determined their provisions.
He has guaranteed their sustenance and determined their provisions." [^1] It is a fact that sustenance is predetermined, but since the world is governed by laws and for every action there are some means and agents and man's choices are among these means and agents[^2], therefore man's struggle[^3] to get the sustenance is as sacred as the religious holy wars**.**[^4] But since the distribution of sustenance is both qualitatively and quantitatively determined by God's special reasoning, sometimes some creatures receive so much sustenance that "a hundred wise men are puzzled at the rationale behind such distribution"[^5] Imam ‘Ali (as) in some sections of Nahj al-Balaghah refers to these two types of sustenance and stresses the following fact: Since this is a universal fact, an effort to earn sustenance through wrong and illegal methods is pure stupidity.
There are two types of sustenance: the sustenance that you seek and the sustenance that seeks you. So do not impose the anxieties for the year ahead on the anxiety of today. What each day holds is sufficient for you. If the following year is part of your life, then Allah will give you in every new tomorrow what is apportioned for you. But if the following year is not part of your life, then what will you do with worrying about what is not yours?
No seeker will precede you to your sustenance nor will anyone take it from you, and what has been destined for you will not held back from you." [^6] In another occasion of the same book, Imam ‘Ali (as) says: "يابْنَ آدَمَ، لا تَحمِل هَمَّ يَومِكَ الّذي يَأتِيكَ عَلى يَومِكَ الّذي قَد اتَاكَ فانَّهُ اِن يَكُ مِن عُمرِكَ يَأتِ الله فِيهِ بِرِزقِكَ" "O son of Adam! Do not impose the anxiety for the day which is to come on the anxiety of your present day.
This is because if it is to be a part of your life then Allah will give you your sustenance in it”.