اپنے ہاتھ کی کمائی

Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No one has ever eaten any food better than what he eats from the earning of his own hands; and the Prophet of Allah Dawud (peace be upon him) used to eat from the earning of his own hands." (Bukhari)

This hadith shows that to earn one's food with one's own hands — that is, through hard work, labour and craftsmanship — is a most praiseworthy and excellent deed, and is one of the finest ways of earning a livelihood; this too was the way of the Prophets (peace be upon them). This hadith also makes it clear that adopting the outward means is necessary: that is, one should employ the means and resources according to one's ability and capacity, and then entrust the outcome and the matter to Allah the Exalted. And the most important point this hadith teaches is that no work or skill should be belittled, and no one who takes up a lawful profession should be looked down upon as lowly.