Barakah is from Allah

Oh people: Jaber bin AbdAllah (may Allah be pleased with them) said:
On the day of the battle of Al-Khandaq (the Trench), we were digging the trench when a very hard boulder came in our way. The Companions informed the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that they encountered a very hard boulder. He said, “I will go down the trench to see it.” He stood up he had tied a stone over his stomach (due to intense hunger). We had not tasted anything for three days. He took up a spade and struck the hard rock with it and it turned into sand. I then said: Oh Messenger of Allah permit me to go home. I said to my wife, “I have seen the Prophet (ﷺ) in a state of extreme hunger that I am unable to endure. Have you anything in the house?”

She said, “I have some barley and a lamb.” I slaughtered the lamb, ground the barley and put the meat in the cooking pot. She (his wife) said do not embarrass me in front of the Messenger of Allah and whoever is with him (due to the limited quantity of food). So I went to him and discretely said to him: Oh Messenger of Allah: I have some food so come with a man or two. He ﷺasked how much is it? Then I indicated the amount (of food). Thereupon he said: Many are good and announced in a loud voice, “O people of the Trench, Jabir has arranged a feast for you, so all of you are welcome.”

I went to my wife and said, “The Prophet (ﷺ), the Muhajirun, the Ansar and whoever is with them are coming.” She said, “ What have you done?” I said: “I did as you said” Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to the earthen pot and spittled and blessed It. He then then said:

“Enter, but do not crowd.” Then he started breaking up the bread and putting meat on it. He would take from the pot and the oven then would cover them up, approach his Companions and hand it to them. Jaber said: “And they were one thousand. And I swear by Allah that they ate until they were full. And our pot was bubbling and at the same level as before. And our dough was the same quantity as before. [Bukhari 4101, Muslim 2039]

If Allah blesses wealth, it becomes abundant. And if He blesses food it becomes satisfying. If Allah blesses something it does not deplete.

A lot of wealth and children without barakah (blessing) is of little benefit.

Anas bin Malik said:
My mother Umm Anas came to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ. And she prepared my lower garment out of half of her headdress and (with the other half) she covered my upper body and said: Allah’s Messenger, here is my son Anas; I have brought him to you to serve you. Supplicate to Allah for him. Thereupon he ﷺ said: O Allah, increase his wealth and progeny and grant him barakah (blessing) in what you give him. [Bukhari , Muslim 2481b]

The Prophet ﷺ joined the supplication of an increase in wealth and progeny with having barakah (blessing) in it. If barakah (blessing) is removed, wealth becomes useless and children become a source of misery. Al Bukhari said: “The Chapter of Supplication for a lot of wealth with barakah (blessing)”.

If Allah places barakah (blessing) in wealth, He nurtures and increases it and makes it fruitful. And He guides its owner to spend it on good matters and what benefits people.

Uthman bin Afaan (may Allah be pleased with him) bought the well of Ruumah and made it a trust for the Muslims and he prepared the army of hardship. So Allah placed barakah (blessing) in his wealth. So the fruit of his date-palms amounted to one hundred thousand.

Whenever honesty is the motto of a person and he genuinely advises Muslims, he has barakah (blessing). For the Prophet ﷺ said:
If they are honest and open, their transaction will be blessed, [Bukhari 2110, Muslim 1532a]

The lack of barakah (blessing) appears when you see the means of prosperity opened to people that have not appeared to anyone before them. And the treasures of the earth burst out. And wealth and trade become abundant. And there are various inventions and industries. However, did not the people only get poorer? And some of them only increased in defeat, hardship, greed and oppression.

And when the barakah (blessing) was evident in people’s lives, little was sufficient for them. And each day they received their daily provisions. And one house accommodated groups of families and individuals. And the food of one person was sufficient for two people. And they were filled with contentment and happiness.

To receive barakah ( blessing), exemplify what your messenger ﷺ said :
The food of two is sufficient for three, and the food of three is sufficient for four. [Bukhari 5392]

And a vessel with capacity for ten people was sufficient for tens of people at the time of the Prophet ﷺ.

What is the matter with many people today who get angry when they do not see enough varieties on the table. Their provisions have constricted since their souls have constricted. For barakah (blessing) is not by an abundance of wealth or high prestige. And the barakah (blessing) is from Allah.

Ibn Masood said:
We used to consider the ayat (signs) as barakah (blessings), but you consider them to be a warning. Once we were with Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) on a journey, and we ran short of water. He said, “Bring the water remaining with you.” The people brought a utensil containing a little water. He placed his hand in it and said, “Come to the blessed water, and the Blessing is from Allah.” I saw the water flowing from among the fingers of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) , and no doubt, we heard the meal glorifying Allah, when it was being eaten (by him).[Bukhari 3579]

The result of barakah (blessing) is purity of the soul and goodness of the heart and a joyful life and comfort and contentment with what one has earned and with what Allah has decreed and by repeating:
Oh Allah, give us barakah (blessing) in what you have given us.

Oh Muslims: Barakah (blessing) is a grace from Allah. For whoever Allah has given barakah to in what He has given has good and benefit even if it is a small amount. And whatever has the barakah (blessing) removed is bad and does not benefit even if it is a lot.

Barakah (Blessing) is brought about by being conscious of Allah, obeying Allah, and stopping at His limits
Al Araf (7) 96: And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened [i.e., bestowed] upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth;

Al Jinn (72) 16: And [Allah revealed] that if they had remained straight on the way, We would have given them abundant rain [i.e., provision].

And Allah Almighty said about the people of the book:
Al Maedah (5) 66: And if only they had upheld [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to them from their Lord [i.e., the Qur’ān], they would have consumed [provision] from above them and from beneath their feet.

So let us pledge consciousness of Allah in ourselves, in our homes, in our markets and in our parks.

We seek honesty in our words and in our dealings. Swearing by Allah to sell commodities wipes away the barakah (blessing).

Steadfastness in prayer and raising the family upon it is barakah (blessing):
TaHa (20) 132: And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you.

Steadfastness to the Quran and raising your children upon it is barakah (blessing) and remembrance.

Al Anam (6) 155: And this [Qur’ān] is a Book We have revealed [which is] blessed, so follow it and fear Allah that you may receive mercy.

Oh Allah give us barakah (blessing) in our lives and our deeds and in our spouses and in our children. And in our wealth and in our time. And in our health and well-being. And make us blessed wherever we are. Indeed you are All Hearing, Answering.

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