Why Work If Allah Has Already Written Your Rizq? | Quranic Psychology

Often, this question is asked:

If Allah has already written a person's rizq, then why should they make an effort?

Indeed, rizq does not come through effort; it comes through the mercy of Allah.

So then, why should we make an effort?

When we search for the answer to this question, we begin to understand something deeper.

When a person makes an effort, they are actually expressing their desire. They are expressing their longing toward something.

For example, if a person wants a watch, they make an effort to obtain it. And after making that effort, they pray to Allah:

“O Allah, place blessing in this effort of mine and grant it success.”

So Allah sees that person's desire, longing, and effort.

We can call this act Amal. (Effort)

And then comes the intention behind that Amal.

Suppose a person desires a watch. They have made the effort to obtain it, but behind that effort there was only one intention:

“After I get this watch, I will show it off to people, look down upon others, and make fun of them.”

In such a situation, Allah may protect that person by making their intention pure first, so that the watch is given to them at a time when it does not become a trial for them.

Because Allah loves you.

And your own intention may be hidden from you.

You can see the longing, but the evil within that longing—the thing that Shaytan could use against you—may not be visible to you.

This is why effort is necessary to obtain anything.

For example, if a person intends to commit an immoral act, will everything happen simply because they thought about it?

They would first have to search for someone through whom they could commit that immoral act.

So, in this act, did they not use effort?

Of course they did.

Then effort is also necessary when doing any good deed.

Why?

Because Allah has given an indication regarding this in the Qur'an.

Qur'an Surah An-Nisa (4:104)

وَلَا تَهِنُوۡا فِىۡ ابۡتِغَآءِ الۡقَوۡمِ‌ؕ اِنۡ تَكُوۡنُوۡا تَاۡلَمُوۡنَ فَاِنَّهُمۡ يَاۡلَمُوۡنَ كَمَا تَاۡلَمُوۡنَ‌ۚ وَتَرۡجُوۡنَ مِنَ اللّٰهِ مَا لَا يَرۡجُوۡنَ‌ؕ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ عَلِيۡمًا حَكِيۡمًا 

«“And do not weaken in pursuit of the enemy. If you should be suffering—so are they suffering as you are suffering, but you expect from Allah that which they expect not. And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.”»

The verse shows that hardship and effort are part of the path, while the believer's hope in Allah gives that effort a different meaning. In its immediate context, the verse is speaking about pursuing the enemy, but it highlights the distinction between enduring hardship and having hope in Allah.

From this, we can understand that every person needs effort for their rizq and for accomplishing any task, whether that effort is directed toward something right or something wrong.

Yes, a wrong action may appear easier.

Perhaps because human ego and pleasure are involved in it, it may feel easy because the person is doing all of this for their own satisfaction.

But when a person wants to do the right thing only to please Allah, and their nafs is against them, it will naturally feel difficult.

This is why it is the nafs itself that says:

“If it is already written in my destiny, then why should I make an effort?”

While another person may be making an effort simply to please Allah—and may eventually achieve success.

And now another question arises.

Suppose someone says to you:

“I love you.”

But there is zero Amal (effort) to prove that love.

Would you like or accept such a thing?

In the same way, our effort is a proof of our love for Allah.

A desire arises inside a person.

They say:

“I will fulfill this desire, but within the limits created by Allah, and I will make an effort for it.”

This itself is a proof of loyalty and love for Allah.

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