Pursue Your Rizq Even With An Axe | Khutbah by Dr. Omar Suleiman

Summary

Dr. Omar Suleiman addresses financial hardship and uncertainty, noting that many people are facing job loss or know someone who is. He emphasizes that belief in Allah as the provider of sustenance (rizq) should not be used as a reason to leave people facing hardship alone. Caring for those in need is a responsibility of the whole community.

He recounts a story about a man who asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for help. Rather than simply giving him money, the Prophet asked what he had at home, sold his blanket and water bowl, and used the proceeds to buy food and an axe blade. He fitted the axe himself, then told the man to gather and sell firewood for 15 days. When the man returned with earnings, the Prophet encouraged him to support his family through his work rather than resort to begging.

Suleiman uses this story to discuss both personal initiative and the community’s responsibility to help people regain stability and dignity.

Key strategies and lessons

• Combine trust in Allah with practical effort. Seek lawful work and take action while relying on Allah; faith does not mean passively waiting.
• Stay open to unexpected paths. A person’s livelihood may come through work or a career direction they had not planned. Adaptability can help counter panic and discouragement.
• Recognize the dignity of honest work. The story of gathering firewood illustrates taking practical steps to provide for oneself and one’s family.
• Build community support, not just individual solutions. Help people find jobs, make useful introductions, share skills and networks, and create channels—such as employment-focused group chats—for connecting people with opportunities.
• Offer concrete financial help. Where possible, lend without seeking profit, allow reasonable time for repayment, forgive a debt when able, or advocate for more manageable payment arrangements.
• Ease pressure on people who are struggling. Family members and friends can reduce unnecessary demands and reassure someone who is unable to provide as they would like.
• Practice gratitude and avoid waste. Be thankful when financially secure, and let that gratitude include helping others. Consider whether spending is necessary, even when resources are available.
• Treat hardship as a shared concern. Offer practical assistance and words of solidarity, and try to understand what a struggling person may be experiencing.
• Remember that circumstances can change. Today’s hardship does not necessarily define tomorrow.

The khutbah closes with prayers for lawful and beneficial provision, employment for those out of work, relief for people in financial difficulty, and the ability for the community to support one another.

Presenters and sources

• Presenter: Dr. Omar Suleiman
• Sources and teachings mentioned: Qur’anic teaching on provision, along with sayings and accounts attributed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, including the story of the man given an axe and guidance about community solidarity. The speaker refers to an account in Ibn [name unclear in subtitles] and related reports; the exact source is not identifiable from the subtitles.