Part I

By Eyad Alnaslah

“Congratulations on your offer,” read the email, after the Vice President called to congratulate me and ask when I planned on starting with the firm.

I read the email three, maybe four times. It was an offer from one of the biggest investment firms in the world. It was an unmatchable offer that came with a six-digit salary, not including bonuses, from a firm overlooking the mesmerizing Southern California beaches.

I initially interviewed with this firm to see what other opportunities were out there in the market. Though I had no need to leave my current job, I wanted to refresh my interview skills, meet new professionals in my industry and maybe consider an offer – which I recommend all my brothers, sisters and colleagues to do once in a while.

The offer then became a reality. The salary, the prestige, the connections, the beach all floated by in my head. But I needed to clear that out of my mind – quickly.

The firm I interviewed with generates its revenue primarily from bonds and other debt investments – investments deemed impermissible in Islam since the profits are considered to be riba (monetary interest). My job as the senior accountant would not be on the investments side (trading bonds and debt investments), but rather working in operations and financial reporting. My salary, however, would be from the revenue generated from these investments.

This firm is said to be “worshipped on Wall Street.” However, I had to remember the One I worship, and remember what pleases and displeases Him! Indeed those who engage in what pleases Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) have the ultimate prestige and wealth, and those who displease Him set themselves up for poverty and destruction. Allah (swt) reminds us:

“Satan promises you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.” (Qur’an 2:268)

Allah (swt) blesses us with wealth, each in a different way, in different capacities, to see what will we do with this wealth. We should ultimately use it to continue worshipping Him in various ways, not allow the dollar to consume our lives and make us forget Allah (swt).

I continued reading over the offer letter, and then, given my potential role and responsibilities, did some research regarding the permissibility of working in such investment firms. There were so many opinions on this topic, each with its own references and rebuttals. Then I began to fall into what is known as “confirmation bias,” a state in which one searches and identifies only the information that reaffirms his or her own predetermined beliefs and opinions. The offer was enticing, and so I began to look for sources that would grant my job its permissibility. This mentality, as I knew yet still began to fall into, is very dangerous for the heart, and especially detrimental to someone seeking to learn and educate himself or herself. There is no real, substantial education if one remains close-minded to intellectual debate and conversation. This mentality can also lead one to start compromising his or her principles – justifying something that is impermissible and beginning to believe that it is allowed, only to serve one’s interests, feelings, beliefs or desires.

I had exactly one week to make a decision to accept or decline the offer. The following thoughts roamed my head for days –

“I will be able to represent Muslims and share my knowledge of finances with them!” I was not sure how, but I was telling myself that this could be my excuse to accept the job. I erased this from my thought process.

“Interest is everywhere, you cannot avoid it.” That is not true. There are plenty of opportunities for someone to work for a respectable firm and make a respectable income. Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), I have a good job and I am happy. There is no necessity or excuse to justify taking this job.

“I would not be actively engaged in riba, my job would be far removed from the four categories of those cursed (in a Prophetic tradition or hadith) by engaging in riba – the receiver, the giver, the writer (of the agreement/transaction), and the witnesses.” In reality, I was actually too close to riba as my salary would be directly derived from riba. The Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) described the spread of riba like the spread of dust; I may not be in the dirt (riba) but I would be close enough that the dirt’s dust would reach me. In any case, did I really want to work in and contribute to a system that is based on riba and encourages investors to make profits from what displeases Allah (swt)? No, thanks.

A distant relative found out about my offer and told me, “Man, you should take it! Any girl will accept you [for marriage] with that kind of cash… You can buy her the biggest rock and throw the nicest wedding party.” I will share my reflection on this in Part II.

As for the job offers that we Muslims living in the West are presented with, I would like to give an example to everyone, specifically those of our dear sisters who do not work themselves, because we care about them and want there to be more understanding between Mars and Venus.

Do you know how at times it can be really challenging for sisters to wear the hijab (headscarf) and dress modestly? It can be especially hard when they go out to shop and have to find something that is Islamically acceptable, but a lot of things out there are not. They have to really look for clothes that are modest and even have to alter some clothes to make it happen. Sometimes they find the right fit or style and that makes their lives easier, and other times it is not that easy. Maybe sometimes in their heads, they try to justify a certain skirt or blazer, but in fact know it should probably be a little bit looser or less attention-grabbing. It is an obligation to wear the hijab and they want to make sure it is done correctly to please Allah (swt), right?

A similar struggle is experienced by a working Muslim when making sure that his or her income is Islamically permissible and that the fabric of the income is halal (permissible). We want to make sure that it pleases Allah (swt) because we want His blessings and to be rewarded for spending on our families, for the community and in charity from a halal income. There may be times when we have to let go of a certain job (like sisters may have to let go of a skirt) because the income or job is really not halal. In my case, I tried to justify, out of my weakness, a non-halal income, but thankfully I was guided and reminded by those close to me that it really was not acceptable. So I put that job offer back on the rack, trusting that Allah (swt) has the best in store for me and everyone now and in the future.

Therefore, I had to wake up. I told myself, despite the temptation and pressure, “Dude! Your salary would be coming from riba! Stop trying to justify the job just because it is a great offer!” Although I would not have been actively or directly engaging in riba, which is heavily denounced in the Qur’an and our Islamic faith, I might have been on occasion, and I did not want to build my life on something doubtful. I definitely did not want to stand in front of Allah (swt) with this either.

This concept is called wara’ (ورع) in Islam – an extra step to stay away from something, even if may be permissible, with the concern that it may lead to something impermissible, and in doing so staying away from the doubtful.

Our faith is at stake when we try to justify things that displease Allah (swt). After all, on the Day of Judgment, everyone will be asked about their decisions and actions. On that Day, Allah (swt) will ask about four things, as said in a Prophetic saying, one of which is our wealth, how we obtained it and how we spent it. Was I willing to stand in front of Allah (swt) and try to justify an income that was generated from interest? No, thanks.

There were three profound ahadith (narrations) that guided me—and all guidance is from Allah (swt)— in addition to the advice of scholars and close brothers whom I consulted—to deny this “great” offer.

“The halal is clear and the haram (impermissible) is clear, and between them are matters unclear that are unknown to most people. Whoever is wary of these unclear matters has absolved his religion and honor. And whoever indulges in them has indulged in the haram. It is like a shepherd who herds his sheep too close to preserved sanctuary, and they will eventually graze in it. Every king has a sanctuary, and the sanctuary of Allah is what He has made haram. There lies within the body a piece of flesh. If it is sound, the whole body is sound; and if it is corrupted, the whole body is corrupted. Verily this piece is the heart.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

With the guidance of Allah (swt), I decided to play it safe in the gray zone, decline the offer, and hope that Allah (swt) counts me among those that are honored, trying my best to protect my heart. There was too much ambiguity regarding its permissibility. To me, my heart did not feel settled taking this job. It was too risky and it would risk my relationship with Allah (swt). As a brother advised me, sometimes consulting your heart is the best way to go. This is actually part of the second hadith!

“Consult your heart. Righteousness is that about which the soul feels at ease and the heart feels tranquil. And wrongdoing is that which wavers in the soul and causes uneasiness in the chest, even though people have repeatedly given their legal opinion [in its favor].” (Musnad, Imam Ahmad and Al-Darimi)

And the third awesome hadith –

“Verily you will not leave something for the sake of Allah except that He compensates you with     something better.” (Musnad, Imam Ahmad)

There are plenty of (better) opportunities out there besides this firm, no matter how big and prestigious it is. Allah (swt) is bigger than them, and He is the one Who honors. Allah (swt) is wealthier than them, and He is the one Who provides. Indeed, the Prophetic advice is the best advice.

Allah’s (swt) promise and offer is bigger than what any firm can promise or offer you. If we dedicate our lives and money for Allah (swt), He offers a salary no rational person can turn down; it really is an unmatchable salary offer – Jannah (Paradise).

A special thanks to Dr. Monzer Kahf (Professor, Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies), Br. Sabih Syed (Vice President, TCW Los Angeles), and Br. Omar Amin (Advisory Manager, PwC) for their advice in helping me make the right decision about the job offer, and a special thanks to Dr. Imad Bayoun (UC Riverside; Lecturer, Muslim American Society – MAS) and Sheikha Muslema Purmul (Al Azhar, Cairo) for editing this article.

(Please note that everyone’s circumstances are different and that this article is the opinion and conclusion that I have reached after my research. I would advise everyone for their specific situation to seek qualified scholarly opinions, preferably from those that have the knowledge and experience of Islamic law and the financial/economic/corporate law of their respective country and situation.)

He came in, cheerful as always, and greeted his beloved wife. “Do we have anything to eat?” he asked, and she replied, “We have nothing.” And he said, “Well, in that case, I am fasting today!”

This conversation occurred between the Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) and his wife Aisha radi
 Allahu
 `anha
—may
 God 
be pleased
 with 
her—(narrated in Muslim). Had the Prophet ﷺ focused on the fact that there was no food, he would have probably felt starved the whole day. But by taking a different attitude, he turned the situation around completely. His mind could now be occupied with something useful, something other than food.

Oftentimes, when we focus on a problem, we are not actually focusing on a solution. We are so fixated on the problem that, in addition to inflating it, we close the doors to any other alternative. But the Prophet ﷺ had this amazing skill: seeing the opportunity for growth in seemingly dire situations. And once you do that, you start seeing opportunities where others only see closed doors.

So what does this have to do with failure?

Failures, setbacks, broken hearts, the loss of a job—all this takes its toll on the human heart. What is the point of trying, when trying only leads to failure? Been there, done that. If you find yourself thinking like that, then you need to remember this verse in the Qur’an:

“So verily, with the hardship, there is relief, Verily, with the hardship, there is relief.” [(Qur’an, 94:5-6)]

Allah subhanahu 
wa
 ta`ala
 (exalted 
is 
He) tells us that within one hardship, there are at least two reliefs (the verse talks about one definite hardship, “the” hardship, and mentions ease twice in indefinite terms). God (swt) is teaching you to look for the opportunities within your hardship. This skill, seeing the opportunity for growth, becomes invaluable during setbacks. While others are focusing on the failure, you are focusing on the opportunities.

There is now an abundance of psychological research on this. Shawn Achor talks about this in his book, The Happiness Advantage. He calls this particular principle ”Falling Up”. And he shows that setbacks can actually fuel creativity when we are in the right frame of mind, because we are forced to think in new ways. But that is only when we wire our brains to know that this difficulty can be overcome. Some people always bounce back, but others always seem to crash down. And research has shown that the difference between the two is the ability to see that a closed door somewhere means, at the very least, an open window somewhere else. Achor mentions that during the recession, the companies that made it out successfully were those that found creative ways to cope, and the managers then stated that they could not go back to the old way of doing things because the new way—born out of that calamity—was a much better way.

To help us with this, it is crucial to focus on what is within our control. We spend so much time freaking out about things that we cannot do anything about. But what can we do? When we realize that there are certain things that are within our power, we are liberated because we realize we are not so helpless after all.

Do you know the back-story of Al-Muthanna bin al-Haritha? Ask people who know about him, and they will say he was the first Muslim to defeat the Persians. But what made him do that? Al-Muthanna was from the tribe of Bani Shayban, who refused to support the Prophet ﷺ. When the Prophet ﷺ was seeking protection, Banu Shayban was the first tribe he went to, because they were powerful. But because of their special relationship with the Persian Empire, they told our beloved Prophet ﷺ that they would only protect him from the Arabs, not the Persians. They did not want to lose the privilege of being allied with the greatest empire at the time, even at the expense of the truth.

Fast forward to over a decade later: al-Muthanna bin al-Haritha, who was instrumental in this refusal to protect the Prophet ﷺ, accepted Islam a mere few months after the Prophet ﷺ passed away. He wept profusely. He missed out on supporting the Prophet ﷺ, because he wanted the privileges bestowed upon his tribe for being allied with the Persians. So was that the end for him? No. Islam empowered him. He wanted to make up for it. He knew that the Persian Empire was getting ready to attack the small but growing Muslim state. So he attacked them first. After winning some battles, he sent for reinforcements from Abu Bakr (ra), the Muslim Caliph at the time, but ‘Umar bin al-Khattab (the companion) did not even know who he was! ‘Umar advised Abu Bakr to send reinforcements, but with Khalid bin al-Walid, the greatest military commander.

When Khalid arrived with the troops and a message instructing al-Muthanna to take orders from Khalid, al-Muthanna stated that he was not looking for leadership, only to make up for lost time. When he saw Abu Bakr (ra) after winning six battles, he asked him, “Do you think now that the Prophet ﷺ would be pleased with me?” He died a martyr outside the gates of one of the major Persian cities, hoping it would intercede for him.

In his failure, al-Muthanna saw a unique opportunity. He knew he had exclusive knowledge of the Persian Empire, and he received the news firsthand of their plans to attack the Muslims. Had he been consumed in his sadness of failing the Prophet ﷺ, he would have never seen this opportunity. But he was looking for something to make up for his failings. Moreover, he focused on the things he could do, as opposed to the things he could not control. And he saw the opportunity for growth.

The more you train yourself in this skill, the more it will come naturally to you. This requires us to get acquainted with Allah, and know His attributes. When you know that He is the Most-Wise, that He appreciates even the smallest things that you do, and that within hardship there are opportunities, the more your brain automatically picks up on possibilities where others see none. And it requires us to become followers of His Prophet ﷺ by studying his journey, and how he ﷺ saw beauty in the most unlikely of places. It requires us to be conscious of the way our mind works when we are confronted with difficulties, and recognizing that our way is just one way of thinking. There are other options, and there are alternative ways of looking at the problem. Below are three steps you can take towards seeing things alternatively.

1—The long-term: Do not wait for a calamity to hit before you realize that you are not emotionally or mentally equipped. Build yourself and build the skills when times are good. The Prophet ﷺ tells us, “Remember Allah in times of ease, and He will remember you in times of difficulty.”  (Musnad Ahmad)

Give yourself a daily task of writing down three things you are grateful for. Do it even when you have had a terrible day. You are training your mind to see beauty in adversity. Make it a mission to learn about how the Prophet ﷺ dealt with difficulties in his life. You will be inspired to grow in your desire to improve.

2—Focus on what is in your control: Stop worrying about the things that you have no control over. Allah (swt) makes a way out in ways you could not even imagine. If you have a difficult relationship with a family member, do not be consumed by their reactions or character. You may not be able to change them, but you can certainly change yourself. What usually happens is that people respond to your changes, even if slowly. And if they do not, their attitude ceases to bother you because you have already worked on yourself. You can take things in stride.

3—Look for the good: I was once on my way to the airport and, because I had so many suitcases (story of my life), I had booked a car to take me there. The driver asked me what I was studying, and then he told me he had studied the same subject. But then he said that when he graduated, that was when the financial crisis hit, and there were no jobs. So he started working as a driver in a private car-hire company. He learned the ins and outs, and finally started up his own airport transfer company. He did not lament the fact that there were no jobs, or the fact that he had a law degree but was forced to work as a driver. He was grateful to have a job. His eyes were open to opportunities. And now he owns his own company.

It is not to say that we will all become CEOs or millionaires, but that blessings are different for each individual. For example, some people who lose their jobs then start to spend more time with their families. Instead of simply falling into a deep pit of darkness, they saw that now they did not have an excuse not to be with their family more. And they realized what they were missing out on.  In their quest to find a new job, they kept in mind that family was a priority. There is always something good if you want there to be.

I had a friend who could not bring up a certain topic with her parents. It simply petrified her. But she knew she had to. So she brought it up, and their reaction was as bad as she expected. She told me that she could choose to view what happened in two ways: that she failed, and that was that, good for her for trying, case closed; or she could think that now that she brought it up, at least her parents knew what she was thinking. Their reaction was so bad because, at least for them, her proposition was so unexpected. There is always resistance to new ideas. So instead of seeing it as a closed door, she saw it as a step forward. Now it is on the radar. And change will come, insha’Allah (God willing).

As we can see from the examples, you can apply this thinking to all things, big and small. But once you do, you will see yourself becoming more effective, creative and happy, insha’Allah. Because for you, all the doors are open.
—

This article is inspired by the principles in Shawn Achor’s The Happiness Advantage.

No really, take a look around. Everything is in complete chaos, nothing seems to make sense. It seems that with every coming day things just keep getting worse and worse. Humanity is lost. People do not care about each other like they used to. It is clearly apparent that the world as we know it is going down the drain and there is nothing we can do to stop it.

Or is it? Think back to the “good ol’ days.”  The days when things actually made sense, and there was still humanity to be seen around every corner. Perhaps it was a time when you were young when the world seemed to be perfectly aligned, or at least for the most part. Or perhaps you can’t remember a time where things made sense, but you have heard about those times and secretly crave to be teleported back as soon as possible.

One of those times that is oft brought up is the time when the Prophet ﷺ  (peace be upon him) was present on the earth. We hear stories about when the Prophet ﷺ  was amongst the people, and we get swept away by the beauty of it all. A time when human life was still regarded as precious. It was a time when trustworthiness was praised and encouraged. It was a time when mercy, compassion and love were shown to all. Hearing these stories can make us want to get lost in this picture-perfect memory and leave reality for at least a few peaceful moments.

While the truth is, it was such a beautiful time and no one can deny the blessings and the beauty that radiated throughout the lands, we are overlooking some of the details of this time as well. We are forgetting that there were people living at that time who were burying their daughters alive simply because they were girls. We are forgetting that there were people who were plotting and planning to kill the beloved Messenger ﷺ for speaking the truth. We forget that people were murdering each other, stealing from each other and betraying each other. We forget that there was plenty of evil during that time as well, evil that our Prophet ﷺ was trying to erase.

The fact of the matter is that it is easy to look back on times and see the highlights of the good, the beautiful and the beneficial; although when in the situation, all we can see are the crazies and the evils. It is easy to think that the world is going down the drain when stuck in the middle of the whirlpool of life, but perhaps in 20 years you will look back and see the beauty that was surrounding you through it all.

The key to it all is trying to enjoy it while it lasts. To take the example of our beloved Prophet ﷺ who lived through times that are now seen as “the good ol’ days.” It is said that he was never to be seen without a smile on his face. That he would greet anyone he came across and ask about their well being. He even checked up on a person who had been throwing trash at his door when the trash stopped appearing, in fear that the person might have been sick. He was a light that was spreading love, and through his love he touched the lives of the people around him, granting them the light to carry through. It is this example that we should take and implement in our lives during the present moment.

Be a light and spread your love to every person you meet: be it through a smile, a kind word or even a small gesture. Know that, yes, there are crazy things going down in the world that are horrifically unexplainable, but that never stopped the beauty of love from penetrating the lives and hearts of others in the past—so it will not prevent us today. And realize that the days you are living right now, may in fact be “the good ol’ days” not too far down the line.

So, no, the world has not gone crazy. The world has been crazy from the start. But in that craziness we find the perfect opportunity to bring light to where it is needed most.

Abu Hurairah (ra) saw the unique opportunity available to him to learn from the Prophet of Allah – an opportunity of a lifetime. So he took that opportunity, sacrificing everything to attain it. He knew the value of his limited time with the Prophet ﷺ, for he would be able to learn that which would benefit the rest of the Ummah for generations to come. He took up every chance to gain abundant ‘ajr (reward) from Allah for hasanat (good deeds) that continue adding up in his scale of deeds:

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “When a person dies, the opportunity of gaining more reward ends except for these three: a Sadaqa Jariyah (continuous charity), knowledge from which there is a benefit or a pious child who prays to Allah for him.”(Muslim)

At first glance, it might be surprising to see that the Prophet ﷺ allowed the Ahl As-Suffah to lead such ascetic, almost monastic, lives, as it seems to contradict the Islamic teachings that emphasize the value of working honorably to earn a living and supporting a family. Yet at closer inspection, especially with the example of Abu Hurairah (ra), we find that he chose to sacrifice the luxuries of daily life and having a job to be with the Prophet ﷺ as much as possible. Because he was an able-bodied adult who could earn a living and because he made a choice to spend his time learning, Abu Hurairah (ra) knew that it was not his right to beg for food or money or to complain of hunger or need, and he never did.

On the authority of Abu Rafi’, it is narrated that Abu Hurairah said, “No one gave me a gift except that I accepted it. But as for asking, I would not ask.”²

After the Prophet ﷺ passed away, Abu Hurairah went back to work to earn a living for himself and started a family. He became very wealthy in the business of selling horses and colts. His business success indicates that Abu Hurairah did have the ability to earn a good living and run a business, and that during the life of the Prophet ﷺ he found it more worthy to learn from him “full time” than to do it “part-time” like other Sahabah. He sacrificed his personal comforts to learn as much as possible from what Allah subhanahu wa ta`la (glorified and exalted is He) taught His messenger.

Even today, we too encounter unique opportunities to learn from what Allah (swt) taught His Messenger ﷺ. We too have rare opportunities to leave behind a legacy of beneficial knowledge, building institutions, and leading in social reform. But will we take up these chances to gain abundant ‘ajr? Will we fully dedicate ourselves to these goals while the opportunity for competing in the ajr is still available, or will we only be dedicated “part-time”?

It is no surprise that the needs of the Ummah are many, yet the opportunity to fulfill one or more of these needs is available to us for a limited time. So who will be the next Abu Hurairah in the field of Islamic Studies research in the West? Or in economics, developing models based on Islamic principles? Or in social welfare and healthcare systems? Or in development and management?

In the life of Imam Abu Huraira, we have an exemplary attitude and dedication towards spreading knowledge and living for a higher cause. Isn’t it time we adopted that attitude and dedication for ourselves and our future?

May Allah (swt) empower us to do what is best for ourselves and for the community in this life and in the hereafter. May Allah make us follow in the footsteps of the Prophet ﷺ and sahabah. Ameen.