فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا : So walk (adopt) in ALLAH's paths

Al Quran is the final Holy Book revealed upon the Last of Prophets Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). The Quran & Sunnah is the only source of holy guidance as it entails detailed instructions for each and every walk of human life. Here guidance from Quran for the followers of Islam (فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا : So walk (adopt) in ALLAH's paths) is discussed wrt follow the path of ALLAH in all situations for better living from Quran and Hadith of Prophet ﷺ. This is an approved Jumma Khutba from the Sultanate of Oman and translated in English.

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ۔

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا

So walk (adopt) in ALLAH's paths

Praise be to Allah, Who commanded His servants to travel the earth and strive in its regions, and Who made the treasures of sustenance available in all its aspects, saying, "So walk in its paths." And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that our master and prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the servant of Allah and His Messenger, the guiding and trustworthy prophet, the best of those who strive, the master of those who work, and the leader of the noble ones. The blessed ones, may ALLAH’s prayers and peace be upon him and upon his noble companions, and upon those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgment. This is the recited verse and its translation from Surah Al Anaam:

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فاعوذ باللہ من الشیطان الرجیم- بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

قُلۡ أَنَدۡعُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُنَا وَلَا يَضُرُّنَا وَنُرَدُّ عَلَىٰٓ أَعۡقَابِنَا بَعۡدَ إِذۡ هَدَٮٰنَا ٱللَّهُ كَٱلَّذِى ٱسۡتَهۡوَتۡهُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ حَيۡرَانَ لَهُ ۥۤ أَصۡحَـٰبٌ۬ يَدۡعُونَهُ ۥۤ إِلَى ٱلۡهُدَى ٱئۡتِنَا‌ۗ قُلۡ إِنَّ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ هُوَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ‌ۖ وَأُمِرۡنَا لِنُسۡلِمَ لِرَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Shall we invoke others besides Allâh (false deities), that can do us neither good nor harm, and shall we turn back on our heels after Allâh has guided us (to true Monotheism)? - like one whom the Shayâtin (devils) have made to go astray, in the land in confusion, his companions calling him to guidance (saying): 'Come to us.' " Say: "Verily, Allâh's Guidance is the only guidance, and we have been commanded to submit (ourselves) to the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists);

Surah Al Anaam – 71

O servants of ALLAH: Adopt piety and obey ALLAH. Fear ALLAH as He should be feared, and hold fast to the firmest bond of religion. ALLAH says in Surah Aal E Imran

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ

O you who believe! Fear Allâh (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islâm [as Muslims (with complete submission to Allâh)].

Surah Aal E Imran – 102

O Muslims: ALLAH created the Muslims in this life to worship Him, and He urged them to cultivate the earth, for it is an integral part of that worship. Therefore, we find Him—blessed and exalted is He—linking worship and cultivation in several places in His Great Book. ALLAH Almighty says in Surah Juma:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (٩) فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱبۡتَغُواْ مِن فَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرً۬ا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ

O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salât (prayer) on Friday (Jumu'ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allâh [Jumu'ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salât (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing), That is better for you if you did but know! (9) Then when the (Jumu'ah) Salât (prayer) is ended, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allâh (by working, etc.), and remember Allâh much, that you may be successful (10)

Surah Juma – 9-10

And He, may His glory be exalted, says in Surah Al Muzzammil:

وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضۡرِبُونَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَبۡتَغُونَ مِن فَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ فَٱقۡرَءُواْ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنۡهُ‌ۚ وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ

others travelling through the land, seeking of Allâh's Bounty; yet others fighting in Allâh's Cause. So recite as much of the Qur'ân as may be easy (for you), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give Zakât,

Surah Al Muzzammil – 20-Part

And in that is a great reminder of the importance of striving and working, and an indication of the status of traveling on earth and spreading out in search of ALLAH's provision and bounty. So the Muslim in this life is standing in worship as long as he is striving in the way of earning, seeking ALLAH’s bounty, hoping for His reward. Islam has made striving to earn a lawful living one of the acts of worship through which one hopes to receive both sustenance and reward. One day, the Messenger of ALLAH, peace be upon him, was sitting among his companions when a man passed by, and the companions of the Prophet were impressed by his diligence and activity in work and earning. They said: O Messenger of ALLAH, if only this had been for the sake of Allah! The Messenger of Allah said, “If he goes out striving for his young children, then he is in the path of Allah. If he goes out striving for his elderly parents, then he is in the path of Allah. If he goes out striving to provide for himself and maintain his chastity, then he is in the path of Allah. But if he goes out striving for show and boasting, then he is in the path of Satan.” So congratulations to the Muslim who strives in the path of Allah. He did not seek worldly benefits, but he dedicated his intentions to ALLAH, so he gained good in this world and the hereafter. How amazing is the affair of the believer, for all his affairs are good for him.

O believers: Indeed, Islam, which commands work, has linked it with activity, striving, and reliance on ALLAH, and has warned against laziness, idleness, and dependence on others. ALLAH says in Surah Al Muzzammil

فَٱنتَشِرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ

you may disperse through the land,

Surah Al Muzzammil – 20-Part

And He, Glory be to Him, says in Surah Al Mulk:

فَٱمۡشُواْ فِى مَنَاكِبِہَا وَكُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِهِ

so walk in the path thereof and eat of His provision,

Surah Al Mulk – 15-Part

And he says in Surah Al Muzzammil:

وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضۡرِبُونَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَبۡتَغُونَ مِن فَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۙ

others travelling through the land, seeking of Allâh's Bounty;

Surah Al Muzzammil – 20-Part

This content is addressed to all people, without exception, including the noble prophets, who are the most honored of creation in ALLAH's sight. They were all seekers of sustenance. Noah, peace be upon him, was a carpenter; David, peace be upon him, was a blacksmith; Idris, peace be upon him, is said to have been the first to sew clothes, wear them, and sew for others; and Moses, peace be upon him, worked as a shepherd. Our prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, worked as a shepherd, then in trade with the Quraysh and with Lady Seyyedah Khadija, may ALLAH be pleased with her. And a questioner may ask: Why did the prophets seek sustenance and knock on the doors of employment? The answer is that the prophets are the most honorable of creation in the sight of ALLAH. Since work and earning a living is an honor and dignity by which a person repels from himself the humiliation of begging, the prophets, may ALLAH's prayers and peace be upon them, were the most deserving of this honor and the most worthy of this dignity. Thus, they were for people in this regard an example and a model, and what an example they were. The Messenger of ALLAH, peace be upon him, pointed out this meaning when he said: “No one has ever eaten better food than that which he earns by the work of his own hands. And indeed, the Prophet of ALLAH, David, may ALLAH be pleased with him, used to eat from the work of his own hands.”

Fear ALLAH, O servants of ALLAH, and strive to earn a lawful living in the way of ALLAH, being honorable, generous, and diligent, and always relying on your Lord.

أقولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُالرَّحِيمُ، وَادْعُوهُ يَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ هُوَ البَرُّ الكَرِيمُ

I say what you hear, and I ask forgiveness from ALLAH Almighty for me and for you, so ask forgiveness from Him and He will forgive you, for He is the Forgiving and Merciful, and pray to Him and He will answer you, for He is The noble righteousness

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الحَمْدُ للَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ عِبَادَهُ مِنَ الأَرْضِ وَاسْتَعْمَرَهُمْ فِيهَا، وَحَضَّهُمْ عَلَى تَعْميرِها بِالخَيْرِ فِي كُلِّ نَوَاحِيهَا، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَنَا وَنَبِيَّنَا مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ، أَرْشَدُ العَامِلِينَ، صَلاةً وَسَلامًا دَائِمَيْنِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ

Praise be to Allah, Who created His servants from the earth and settled them therein, and urged them to cultivate it with goodness in all its aspects. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that our master and prophet Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger, the most rightly guided of those who act. May prayers and peace be upon him forever, until the Day of Judgment, and upon his family and all his companions.

O servants of ALLAH: Indeed, the work and earnings that ALLAH and His Messenger love are those that are governed by the principles of Islamic law, guided by the light of ALLAH, and done with the intention of seeking ALLAH’s pleasure, striving to provide for oneself and those one is obligated to support from among one's family and relatives, without any hypocrisy, boasting, or arrogance towards others. ALLAH, Exalted is He, says in Surah Al Qasas:

وَٱبۡتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَٮٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةَ‌ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۖ وَأَحۡسِن ڪَمَآ أَحۡسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡكَ‌ۖ وَلَا تَبۡغِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ

But seek, with that (wealth) which Allâh has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allâh has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allâh likes not the Mufsidûn (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupters).

Surah Al Qasas – 77

The true Muslim seeks what is lawful in his earnings and strives to perfect them, mindful of the words of ALLAH Almighty as mentioned in Surah Al Qasas

لِيَبۡلُوَڪُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۗ

He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds.

Surah Al Qasas – 77

And His words, may His glory be exalted, says in Surah Al Kahaf:

إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ مَنۡ أَحۡسَنَ عَمَلاً

certainly We shall not make to be lost the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner.

Surah Al Kahf – 30-Part

This is so, and whoever wants to improve his work should stay away from cheating and deception, adhere to truthfulness and trustworthiness, seek what is lawful in his livelihood, and avoid doubtful matters, as he said: “Whoever avoids doubtful matters has protected his religion and his honor.” Among the fruits of earning lawful income are: chastity from what is forbidden, and being free from having to ask people for help. This is an honor for the believer and a salvation for him, as Seyyedina Gabriel - peace be upon him - said in his advice to the Prophet, peace be upon him: “Know that the honor of the believer is his standing in prayer at night, and his glory is his independence from people.” Indeed, lawful striving leads to the development of the country, the prosperity of the economy, and the elevation of society.

So fear ALLAH, O servants of ALLAH, and be the best builders of your land and the best ambassadors for the best of religions, for you are as ALLAH says in Surah Aal E Imran

خَيۡرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخۡرِجَتۡ لِلنَّاسِ

You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind;

Surah Aal E Imran – 110-Part

O servants of ALLAH, remember this command of ALLAH:

قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Say: "O 'Ibâdî (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allâh, verily Allâh forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Surah Az Zumr – 53