Bismillah.
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وَٱللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ فِى ٱلرِّزْقِ ۚ فَمَا ٱلَّذِينَ فُضِّلُوا۟ بِرَآدِّى رِزْقِهِمْ عَلَىٰ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌ ۚ أَفَبِنِعْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ
And Allah has favored some of you over others in provision. But those who were favored would not hand over their provision to those whom their right hands possess so they would be equal to them therein. Then is it the favor of Allah they reject?
(Sūrat Al-Nahl, No 16, Āyat 71)
Although Islam is focused on man’s spiritual accomplishments, it does not ignore his requirements in this world. These needs include the means of provision as well as how much each person receives. The above verse gives us an insight into provision from the divine perspective.
1. Inequality in Sustenance: Allah ‘azza wajall has intentionally created differences in provision (rizq) among people. These differences are a test and part of His divine wisdom. History has proven that forced redistribution of wealth is as much of a failure of a system as unfettered and unregulated market forces. The Quranic concept is a balanced medium which rewards hard work while putting the onus on the wealthy to help those who are less fortunate: It is We who have dispensed among them their livelihood in the present life, and raised some of them above others in rank, so that some may take others into service, and your Lord’s mercy is better than what they amass (Q 43:32). This verse highlights the interdependence of humans, as well as the expression of virtues such as generosity and patience, testing both those who have been given more and those granted less.
2. Human Inconsistency: The verse highlights a contradiction in human behavior. Even though people themselves would not share their wealth equally with their slaves (or subordinates), they paradoxically question why Allah subhānahu wata‘ālā has created differences in sustenance among people. By not recognizing that differences in provision come from Allah and by demanding equality in a way that ignores divine wisdom, people are essentially denying His blessings and wisdom.
In many societies across the world, we see the effects of uncontrolled market forces that encourage wealth hoarding, tax evasion and the increase in the mega rich while ordinary people struggle with their day-to-day needs. On the other hand, the other extreme of forced redistribution leads to mass poverty and unsustainability because there was no incentive of hard work to earn a living. As always, divine laws strike the balance, by encouraging the wealthy to be generous whilst strictly prohibiting hoarding and unnecessary luxury and encouraging hard work to keep the economy afloat. In a famous hadith, from the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-ālihi wasallam which has been quoted in both Shī‘ah and Sunni collections: أَعْطُوا الأَجِيرَ أَجْرَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجِفَّ عَرَقُهُ – Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries (Sunan Ibn Majah, H 2443, Mustadrak al-Wasā’il, 14:.29).
This instruction from the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-ālihi wasallam highlights the importance of hard work and the significance of the swift compensation of hard work. Such a concept strikes the balance between hard work and redistribution of wealth which is the key for an economy which incentivizes enterprise whilst at the same time having a safety net for the less fortunate in society.
The International Workers’ Day or Labor Day on May 1st was originally established to honor blue-collar workers, especially those who fought for fair labor practices, like the 8-hour workday. However, in many countries today, Labor Day has become more of a symbolic or bureaucratic holiday rather than one meaningfully linked to labor rights. White-collar workers (often salaried, unionized, or government-employed) benefit from formal holidays whereas blue-collar or informal workers (such as domestic help, electricians, drivers, etc.) often cannot afford to take the day off, especially in the absence of legal protections or paid leave.
Let this verse, and other similar verses, remind us of the wisdom behind the differences in sustenance between people. Wealth and poverty are both tests, each requiring a certain type of response and behavior. Let us not be arrogant or ungrateful and especially remember those who are less well off than us both in wealth and security. May Allah (swt) protect all the believers, especially the resilient people of Palestine.
References: Ibn Majah al-Qazwinī, Sunan Ibn Majah; Mirza Husayn Muhaddith Nuri, Mustadrak al-Wasā’il