Du`a for Success in Business: What Islam Really Says

What Is the Du`a for Success in Business?

There is nothing in the Sunnah to indicate that it is recommended to say a particular Dhikr or Du`a for help in business or earning a living, except that which was narrated from Umm Salamah, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say after Fajr prayer: “Allahumma inni as’aluka rizqan tayyiban, wa `ilman nafi`an, wa `amalan mutaqabbalan (O Allah, I ask you for good (lawful) provision, beneficial knowledge and accepted good deeds).” (Narrated by Ahmad in Al-Musnad, 6/294 and Ibn Majah in As-Sunan, 66)

Al-Haythani (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Majma` Az-Zawa’id (10/146): Its men are trustworthy. (End quote)

It was also classed as sound by Al-Hafidh ibn Hajar as it says in Al-Futuhat Al-Rabbaniyyah (3/70). It was classed as authentic by Al-Albani in Sahih Ibn Majah.

As you can see, it is a Du`a that is general in meaning and includes earnings from business as well as from farming, employment or manufacturing. This is how the Sunnah is in Du`as that are concise in wording and comprehensive in meaning.

Can You Make Your Own Du`a in Business Matters?

But it is recommended for you to ask Allah for what you need by name, using whatever simple words and phrases Allah enables you to say. So you may say for example: O Allah, help me in my business, or O Allah, bless me in my business, or O Allah, make me independent of means so that I have no need of that which is prohibited, or decree for me therein that which is good and makes me independent of means… and so on.

What Truly Matters in Du`a: Sincerity Over Eloquence

More important than the wording of the Du`a is sincerity in Du`a, focusing properly and turning to Allah fully, for Allah does not look at the eloquence of the words, rather He looks at what is in the heart of sincerity, humility and longing for His mercy. From this you may know that saying Du`a in languages other than Arabic is also permissible, if the Du`a is general in meaning and was not narrated in specific words in the Quran or Sunnah.

Key Islamic Guidelines for a Blessed Business

You should also note that fearing Allah (Taqwa) is a means to attain all success, and that the business by means of which a person seeks to attain the pleasure of Allah and in which he pays heed to His command and prohibitions, is a business that will be blessed and helped, if Allah wills, and that haram things erase all blessings, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

{Allah will destroy Riba and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms). And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners.} [Al-Baqarah 2:276]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Even if Riba increases a thing, its consequences lead to loss.” (Narrated by Ahmad, 1/395; classed as sound by Ibn Hajar in Fat-h Al-Bari, 4/369; classed as authentic by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami`, 3542).

Yahya ibn Mu`adh Ar-Razi (258 AH) – who was one of the best of the Salaf –said:

Obedience will be stored in the stores of Allah, and the key (to obedience) is Du`a, and it becomes effective by means of lawful earnings.

Imam Al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy on him) said, when discussing what should be paid attention to when doing business, in Ihya’ `Ulum Al-Din (2/103):

It is essential to have a good intention and sound belief when starting out in business, so a man should intend to make himself independent of means so that has no need of what is prohibited and he does not need to ask of people or seek what they have, as lawful income makes him independent of others and help him to carry out his religious duties and sponsor his children, so that he will become like those who strive for the sake of Allah. He should be sincere with the Muslims and love for all people what he loves for himself, and he should intend to follow the path of justice and good conduct in his dealings, and intend to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil in everything that he sees in the marketplace. If he has all these sound beliefs and intentions in his heart, he will be striving in the path of the Hereafter. And if he earns money then this is something extra, and if he loses in this world he will prosper in the Hereafter. (End quote)

For more details, please refer to the following answers: (174515, 190097, 69747, 149276, 309)

And Allah knows best.