Redefining 'Scope' from Islamic Perspective

Sir, kis field ka scope ziayada hai?  (Sir, which field has better scope?) Students often ask this question when they are deciding for a career. From an Islamic perspective, this question is simply irrelevant. Why? Because in conventional sense the term scope is use to define the chances of growth in a particular field or chances of increase in status and income; for a Muslim who has to believe in Taqdeer, i.e. one’s lifetime earnings are determined by Allah s.w.t (also the time of death along with a few other things); this simply contradicts with his beliefs.

A hadith inform Muslims about five questions which would be asked on the Day of Judgment, these questions include, (a) how you earned, (b) how you spent your income, (c) how you utilized your youth, (d) & spent your life, and (e) how you used your knowledge. The questions are not how much you earned, and how much you spent, which makes it irrelevant to worry about the quantum of income coming in from a particular field.

All what a Muslim is required to focus is the modus operandi, the way the income is being acquired, and it is being spent. If these two are in compliance with the guidelines of Shariah, then InshaAllah during the Day of Judgment, Allah s.w.t will grant forgiveness. For a Muslim this should be his ultimate priority, i.e. the method, not the quantum.

Therefore the definition of scope needs to be redefined. Scope should be chances of avoiding hell fire or punishment of Allah s.w.t in the Akhirah. i.e. which of field provides us the most chances of success in the hereafter. The field with highest chances should be called as the field with most scope.

Now this is a completely different type of a mindset, a complete paradigm shift which is suggested here. And this is unfortunate, i.e. Muslims are being addressed in this article, who should have been defining scope in this way in the first place. Why this is so, the reasons can be traced backed into the kind of brought up and modern schooling most Muslim children receive today and have been receiving since many generations. The visions and dreams which are given to them are not coherent with their beliefs or ideals; also because they are not taught how to align their priorities in line with their beliefs or ideals.

According to another hadith, on a worldly plain Muslim should compare himself with those who are lesser (so that one keeps on thanking Allah s.w.t), and on a spiritual plane compare with someone who is superior (so that one keeps getting inspired). This is yet another proof of emphasis on how a Muslim would prioritize his life.

Imam Ghazali r.a has recommended that one must pray from Allah s.w.t to keep him safe from the life of destitute, beggary and frustration, so that such a state of deprivation doesn’t disturbs our Iman and faith in the benevolence of Allah s.w.t. In this very context Imam Ghazali suggests that it is obligatory for a Muslim to earn a halal living so that he is able to feed himself, give dowry to his wife on wedding, provide them shelter and fulfill their basic needs. Also his earnings will enable him to pay Zakat, perform hajj, and contribute in charity in the society. Therefore one should pray to Allah s.w.t asking for the ability to pay Zakat, i.e. the third religious obligation after Namaz or Salah, which is only possible when your savings are greater than a limit specified in fiqh.

According to another hadith, 90% of the rizq is given to those who are in trade, do business, and 10% is for provided to the employed. So what lead this hadith gives us, when we are opting for a career? Rizq is determined from Allah s.w.t, and its determined more for those doing business, not employees, so if wish to stay out of life of destitute and poverty, what should be your preference?

When a Muslim sets his priority aligned with his beliefs and worldview, he is gifted with barakah. What is it, is difficult to define, but with the help of it, a Muslim is able to achieve more with less, sometime to an extent which is beyond ones imagination. It feels like the world is at your service, to support you to do what you want to do. Your mistakes are converted into blessings in disguise, and your sacrifices become profitable beyond imagination. But that’s happen only when you set seeking pleasure of Allah s.w.t as your top priority, and that’s happen only when one attempts to internally and externally transform himself in the image of sahaba-e-kiram r.a.   

The concept of barakah is another dimension of the concept of scope from Islamic perspective. This means any nature of job or profession, which improve chances of success in Akhirah and brings barakah to you in the world is the one having scope for a Muslim. The more chances of success in hereafter and increase in barakah, the more the scope it is. Therefore mathematically we may right:

Scope = f(Halal Rizq; Success in Akhirah; Barakah)

To negate more the concept of scope, scope of any field in a conventional sense cannot be predicted in future, as you never know how things would change in such a rapidly changing market environment. If you taking admission in a university assuming that the scope of business education is bright, then you never know how things would change till the time you would be in the market looking for a job. So the idea in its conventional also doesn’t really make much sense, and once you bring in the context of Islamic belief system and world view, the conventional idea of scope becomes utterly irrelevant and meaningless.

Author is an academic researcher, author, blogger, social entrepreneur, activist, mentor and tweets @javaidomar