Miscellaneous Masa'il

The Importance of Handicrafts

Some poor women have no means of obtaining or receiving food and clothing. Such women experience great difficulties and problems. The solution to their problem could be in two things: one is that they should get married. Alternatively, they should learn some sort of handicraft and thereby earn a living. However, ignorant people consider both marriage and a handicraft to be a shortcoming. And no one thinks about making proper arrangements for the expenses of these poor women. So how can these women live a proper life? O women! You cannot force anyone (to do anything for you). However, Allah Ta'ala has given you the power of choice over your heart and your hands and feet. You should therefore try and influence your heart and do not worry about what others have to say. If you have reached the age of marriage, get married. If you have not reached the age of marriage, or do not feel like getting married (without considering it to be a shortcoming), or you are scared of further complications (by getting married), then in all these cases try and earn a living through a permitted handicraft. If anyone looks down upon you or mocks at you, don't ever worry about it. If there was anything wrong with such work, why would the prophets alayhimus salaam have taken up such occupations? Who is greater than them? It is mentioned in a Hadith that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to graze sheep. It is also mentioned in a Hadith that there is not a single prophet who did not graze sheep. Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said that the best source of income is that which has been earned with one's own hands and that Hadrat Daud alayhis salaam used to eat with the earnings of his own hands. All this has been mentioned by Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam . Some of the occupations of the prophets have been mentioned in the Quran. Others have been mentioned in other biographies of the different prophets. We will mention the names of a few of such prophets together with their occupations.

1. Hadrat Aadam alayhis salaam had done farming. He used to grind flour and make bread.

2. Hadrat Idris alayhis salaam used to do writing and tailoring.

3. Hadrat Nuh alayhis salaam cut wood and built a ship. This is the work of a carpenter.

4. Hadrat Hud alayhis salaam was a trader.

5. Hadrat Saalih alayhis salaam was a trader.

6. Hadrat Zul Qarnayn was a great king and, according to others, he was a prophet. He used to weave baskets.

7. Hadrat Ibrahim alayhis salaam used to do farming. He also engaged in construction work - he built the ka'bah .

8. Hadrat Lut alayhis salaam used to do farming.

9. Hadrat Isma'eel alayhis salaam used to make arrows and put up targets.

10. Hadrat Is'haaq alayhis salaam , Hadrat Ya'qub alayhis salaam and all their children used graze sheep and give them to their children.

11. Hadrat Yusuf alayhis salaam traded in grain when there was a drought.

12. Hadrat Ayyub alayhis salaam had the young of many camels and sheep. He had also done farming.

13. Hadrat Shu'ayb alayhis salaam had also grazed sheep.

14. Hadrat Musa alayhis salaam grazed sheep for several years. This tending of sheep was also his form of payment of mahr when he got married.

15. Hadrat Harun alayhis salaam was a trader.

16. Hadrat al-Yasa' alayhis salaam used to do farming.

17. Hadrat Daud alayhis salaam used to make armour which is the work of an ironsmith.

18. Hadrat Luqmaan alayhis salaam was a very wise person. Some scholars consider him to be a prophet. He used to graze sheep.

19. Hadrat Sulayman alayhis salaam used to weave baskets.

20. Hadrat Zakariyya alayhis salaam used to do carpentry.

21. Hadrat 'Isa alayhis salaam had dyed clothes at a person's shop.

We have already mentioned that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and all other prophets had grazed sheep. Although these prophets did not depend on the different occupations as a source of income, they however did all these things and did not consider them to be a defect or shortcoming. Many great auliyaa' and ulama who have written great works had also undertaken some sort of occupation. Some of them engaged in weaving, others in tanning of leather, others in repairing of shoes, while others engaged in the making of sweetmeats. Who can have more honour and a greater status than all these great persons?