Some people think that religion is just a matter of prayer and worship. What about going to work, earning money? Is that something that should be encouraged?
These quotes come from the Chapter in Al Kafi titled, “Chapter 5 – Promoting The Quest For Sustenance And Work To Make A Living ” :
H 8343, Ch. 5, h 1 Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from ‘Amr ibn Yazid who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, that a man says, ‘I stay home, perform Salat (prayer), fast and worship my Lord. My sustenance will come to me.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi alSalam, said, ‘This is one of the three (classes of people) whose prayer is not answered.’”
H 8344, Ch. 5, h 2 Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Al-Hassan ibn ‘Atiyah from ‘Umar ibn Yazid who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Do you think the sustenance of a man who stays in his home and closes his door, keeps falling on him from the sky?’
H 8345, Ch. 5, h 3 Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from Ayyub, brother of ‘Udaym Bayya’ al-Harawiy who has said the following: “Once we were in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, when al-‘Ala’ ibn Kamil came in and sat in front of abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, and asked, ‘Please pray for me so Allah will make me affluent.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, said, ‘I will not pray for you. Has Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, not commanded you to seek and find your sustenance?’”
H 8346, Ch. 5, h 4 A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from abu Talib al-Sha‘raniy from Sulayman ibn Mu’alla’ ibn Khunays from his father who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, asked about a man, when I was present, and it was said to him, ‘He has become very needy.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘What is he doing today?’ It was said, ‘He is in his home worshipping his Lord.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘Wherefrom he receives for his living?’ It was said, ’It comes from a certain one of his brothers.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, then said, ‘By Allah, the one who provides him his living does a much more powerful worship than his worship.’”
H 8347, Ch. 5, h 5 A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu Hamzah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that one who works to earn his sustenance in this world so he would not need to spread his hands before people for help, to better the living conditions of his family and to show kindness to his neighbors will, on the Judgment Day, go before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, with his face as bright as the full moon.’”
H 8348, Ch. 5, h 6 A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ibn Mahbub from abu Khalid al-Kufiy in a marfu’ manner from abu Ja’far who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Worship has seventy parts. The most excellent part in it is working to make lawful living.’”