The news on Sunday, December 29

Many people feel anxious when they hear the word "merchant" because it carries an aura of prestige that seems unreachable.

This is entirely correct—charisma is essential for a merchant. However, charisma is a completely learnable skill, and you can master it easily.

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Yesterday in the comments, a dear friend wrote that people buy gold and coins or invest in stocks and cryptocurrencies to preserve the value of their money; otherwise, they know these markets do not bring them profit.

First of all, this statement is false, and you have misunderstood the people.

Go and ask the people this question directly, and you will see it is not as you claim. Instead, 99% of people harbor the hope in their hearts that, someday or overnight, what they have bought will multiply several times and bring them massive profits. If they were certain that putting money into these paths leads to pure loss, they wouldn’t rush into these investment markets like vultures flocking to a carcass.

Secondly, even assuming what you say is true, the question arises: Is there no other way to spend money?

Each person has a livelihood path through which they seek sustenance from God.

Some people have made themselves servants and dependents of others. Naturally, if these individuals earn money, they cannot spend it to advance their careers.

They cannot create stimulation or innovation in their work.

This advancement and stimulation, known as "promotion," is unattainable in the lives of these individuals, and we have no suggestions for them.

Not only us, but even God does nothing for them.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever has made himself a servant to another, no matter how much he calls upon God and asks, 'Why am I in poverty, and why don’t You help me?' he will receive no answer until an angel responds, 'Your Lord created you free and took charge of your sustenance. Yet, you made yourself a servant to others and transferred the channel of your provision from your Lord to a servant. Now, go and seek the increase in your provision from him.’"

You have likely heard that for increasing sustenance, it is recommended to recite continuously verses 2 and 3 of Surah At-Talaq.

I have often encountered people who recite these verses frequently but say that their sustenance hasn’t increased.

I have interacted with several of these individuals.

I ask them, "Don’t you think that God might want you to repeatedly recite this verse so that you may reflect on its content and make a change in your life?"

Let’s read these two verses, recommended for increasing sustenance, together.

"And for those who fear Allah, He [ever] prepares a way out, And He provides for him from [sources] he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is [Allah] for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion."

These two recommended verses consist of five parts that clearly show the way to you and me. However, most people merely recite them parrot-like, perhaps over a thousand times, without reflecting on their meaning. Yet, our Lord has repeatedly commanded us to ponder and deeply contemplate His verses.

The first recommendation from God is that whoever is pious, God provides for them an exit, meaning a way out.

This means you should first leave the job you have today that does not provide your sustenance.

But you never think about this exit.

When you see that you have stayed in this job for years and are still struggling, why don’t you leave?

Hasn't He said that whoever is pious, God provides a way out for them?

O pious one, why don't you leave?

Even in business, there is a narration from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) that he said: "If you work on a product and it does not yield results, change the product."

In trade, he also says to leave this situation and go to another situation, let alone other jobs.

But people recite this verse a hundred thousand times, yet they are not willing to leave their previous job, and then they say why the verse did not answer.

The second part of this verse says: " He provides for him from [sources] he never could imagine."

Now, for example as an app-based taxi driver, can you tell me if you have left any space for God to provide you with sustenance from an unimaginable source?

An employee who has tied himself to a stingy employer or an office with no potential for increased income hasn’t left any room for God to provide sustenance through unexpected means.

What’s remarkable is that God, in His generosity, still extends His grace.

I knew a relative who was a taxi driver and shared a similar story. I asked him, “Has it ever happened that one of your passengers was someone who offered you a job?”

He replied, “Yes, actually, a few times. For instance, I picked up factory owners whose cars had broken down, and they were forced to take a taxi. They told me to leave driving and come work for them in another role.”

I asked, “Didn’t you think that this was the effect of the very verse you keep reciting?”

He said, “No.”

I asked, “Why not?”

He answered, “If God wills, He can increase my income while I’m still a driver.”

Honestly, I felt like banging my head—or his—against a wall at this complete misunderstanding of God’s wisdom.

I told him, "My friend, God has intended to increase your sustenance from a source you cannot even imagine and to elevate you beyond being a driver. But you are being stubborn and limiting God's provision."

When you recite this verse, you should ask yourself: Is my job one that allows room for sustenance to come in a way I cannot imagine?

Then it says, "And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is [Allah] for him."

Have you truly placed your trust in the sufficiency of God, or are you relying on the sufficiency of people?

As I move through different jobs, I notice that most people place their hope in others.

They have removed God from the equation, and to them, God is irrelevant.

Who has an employee entrusted themselves to?

They have placed a barrier between themselves and God, effectively removing God’s power in their lives.

You must have a job where it is only you and God, with no one else having control over you.

In the fourth part, it says, "For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose."

What do we call someone who gives orders to another?

They say "kar" (work) + "farma" (command) which becomes "karfarma" (employer).

Who is your employer?

Is it God, or have you made another human your employer?

When you’re a barber, who tells you how to cut someone’s hair, so that you can earn a few coins in return?

When you are a construction worker, who tells you what to do and what not to do?

Have you made God the employer of your profession?

God says, I must be the employer to direct you.

When you’ve given everyone else control over your life and removed God from your leadership, do you expect things to work out well?

And at the final part, it clarifies things for us, where Allah says that for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion.

What is the measure of a worker's income?

What is the measure of a clerk's income?

Have you ever seen or heard of a worker earning 200 million Toman a month?

Or an employee earning 300 million Toman a month?

How much can a taxi driver earn in a month if they don't sleep and get the best passengers?

Allah reminds us that every job has its own measure.

And when you find yourself in a job with a very limited measure, Allah does not come to disrupt His wisdom and destiny for you, and no miracle happens.

I understand nothing from all of this except that, people, you should engage in trade.

One: The way for people to move from low-level jobs to high income is trade.

Two: The job where Allah has complete control and can provide me with money from a way I never even imagined is trade.

Three: The job where I can rely solely on Allah, and He will be sufficient for me, with no one else being of importance, is trade.

Four: It is in trade that I have no boss or superior except for Allah, and the customer, as we have repeatedly said, is like a wife, while the businessman is like the husband. So, it is not as some say that the customer is God, for Allah is in His rightful place, and the customer is like a wife to the man, not the commander.

Five: And when He says everything has a measure, it is trade that alone holds 90% of the world’s wealth, while all other jobs combined account for just 10%.