The Devotion of Life — Page 341
341 All Those Who Live in Rabwah Should Devote Themselves to Serve the Faith “We want this place to be an exemplary place. Just as we are apparently making it a religious centre, in the same manner all those who live here should in fact be devoted for the service of religion. They may, as the need may arise, do some worldly jobs, but their real objective should be to serve and propagate the faith. ” Example of the Companions “All the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) used to work for their livelihood. In the army of the Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) there was not a single soldier who was paid. Some were shopkeepers, some were farmers, and some were labourers, blacksmiths and carpenters. In short, everyone was a tradesman. As you have shops, they also had shops. As you have farmlands, they also had farmlands. If you are engaged in various trades, working as labourers, carpenters or blacksmiths, then they too had their occupations. However, when the Prophet went out for a battle, they all went out with him. In those days, it was battles; and now we are given the work of Tabligh. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) used to tell his Companions to come, and they went along with him. They never said that their shops would be closed. Not only this, they too had wives and children. Nowadays, people ask who would feed their wives and children if they went out to serve faith. The question is, whether the