Working hard is a significant part of being Muslim. Laziness is not a likeable trait. We must always strive our hardest to achieve our goals, and not expect anyone else to do our work for us. Hard work is something that only two types of people can do. These two types of people have different intentions, which are, for the sake of Allah (swt), and for the sake of themselves.
Those that work for the sake of Allah (swt) have a high value because of the amount of humility they hold in their hearts. It is patience that keeps them pleased and content. Patience is a rare gift that not many people can say they have.
Among the things that the Prophet (pbuh) said on patience was this:
“Whoever refrains from asking others, then Allah will make him content. Whoever would be independent, then Allah will make him independent. Whoever would be patient, then Allah will make him patient. There is no gift that is better and more comprehensive than patience.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6470, Sahih Muslim 1053)
Here independence is seen to be linked with patience. Both independence and patience are the result of perseverance and putting in effort. These qualities cannot be achieved by being lazy. There is another intention that could make a person a hard worker which is self-interest, or wordly interest. This type of purpose is shallow when compared to enduring hardships for the sake of Allah (swt). May Allah (swt) accept our prayers when read the Quranic verse:
“Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin” Quran 6:162
Written by Nour Jamal