He should then receive wealth with a contented heart, so that it may be blessed for him, rather than with eager longing and anxious greed. Wealth should be to him like a privy: something he needs, but which holds no place in his heart. When he strives to acquire it, his efforts should be like attending to the upkeep of the privy.

In a hadith traced back to the Prophet and narrated by al-Tirmidhī and others:

“Whoever begins his day with this world as his greatest concern, Allah will throw his affairs into disarray and disrupt his livelihood, and nothing of this world will come to him except what has been decreed for him. Whoever begins his day with the Hereafter as his greatest concern, Allah will bring his affairs together, place richness in his heart, and make this world come to him despite itself.”

One of the early generations said:

“You need this world, but you have an even greater need for your share of the Hereafter. If you begin with your share of the Hereafter, it will encompass your share of this world and bring it into proper order.”

Allah Most High says:

“I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”

“I seek no provision from them, nor do I wish them to feed Me.”

“Indeed, Allah is the Provider, the Lord of Power, the Ever-Strong.”

As for choosing one means of earning a livelihood over another—whether a craft, trade, construction, farming, or anything else—this varies from person to person, and I know of no universal rule concerning it. But when an opportunity presents itself, a person should seek Allah Most High’s guidance concerning it through the prayer taught by the teacher of goodness (peace and blessings be upon him), for it contains blessings beyond measure. Then, whatever is made easy for him, he should not strain to pursue something else, unless there is something objectionable about it under Islamic law.