—“And We taught him the craft of making coats of armor for you, to shield you from one another’s violence; will you then not give thanks?” (al-Anbiyāʾ 21:80). Hence David was a smith.

Zachariah, for his part, was a carpenter: he sawed wood and accepted wages for his work. This shows that having a job or a trade is no disgrace, for the prophets, peace be upon them, themselves practiced such crafts. Undoubtedly this is better than begging from people. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “If one of you were to carry a bundle of firewood on his back and sell it, then take the earnings from it, that would be better for him than asking people, whether they give him something or refuse.”

Such is the noble character: that a person humbles himself before no one and is never servile, but rather eats from what his own hands earn—whether through trade, skilled work, or farming. Allah the Exalted says, “And others travel through the land, seeking the bounty of Allah” (al-Muzzammil 73:20). Let him not ask people for anything. Allah alone grants success.