Arabic Text
English Translation
— Abu Hurayrah (RA) (Muslim)
Commentary
Pure earnings are a precondition for accepted worship. A pious appearance with haram income is a contradiction Allah does not bless.
Extended Explanation
Allah's name aṭ-Ṭayyib (the Pure) is invoked here as the basis for a profound principle: He accepts only what is pure. The Prophet ﷺ then drew a stark image — a traveller, all the outward signs of one whose du‘ā' should be answered (long journey, dishevelled, hands raised, calling ‘O Lord, O Lord!’) — yet his food, drink, clothing, and sustenance are all ḥarām.
The rhetorical question: ‘How can his du‘ā' be answered?’ delivers the lesson: pure earnings are a precondition for accepted worship and answered prayer.
Ibn Rajab observes: many of the Salaf would refuse to eat with someone if there was even a doubt about the source of their wealth. Sufyān ath-Thawrī said: ‘A man may give a dirham of pure earning that is more beloved to Allah than a hundred thousand of mixed.’
From the Scholars
"Pure earnings are the foundation of every accepted act. Charity from ḥarām earnings is rejected; ḥajj from ḥarām earnings is rejected; even du‘ā' is barred at the door."
"Allah being aṭ-Ṭayyib means He is pure in His Essence, His names, His attributes, and His actions — and He accepts only what corresponds to His purity."
Fiqh & Rulings
- •Earning ḥarām income (ribā, theft, fraud, prohibited trades) blocks the acceptance of ‘ibādah.
- •If one inherits or possesses ḥarām wealth, the path of repentance includes returning it to its rightful owner if known, or giving it in charity (without seeking reward) if unknown.
- •Mixed earnings (some ḥalāl, some ḥarām) require purification — at minimum, separating out the ḥarām portion.
- •The four conditions for an answered du‘ā' include: pure earnings, sincerity, certainty in answer, and not asking for sin or severing of family ties.
Qur'ān Cross-References
Key Arabic Vocabulary
pure, good, wholesome
dishevelled hair
dust-covered
is nourished
Today's Reflection
Audit your income. If a portion is haram, plan to remove it.
Key Benefits
- 1Du‘ā' depends on more than effort — it depends on purity of intake.
- 2Outward devotion without inward purity is incomplete.
Common Mistakes & Warnings
- ⚠‘I'll work the ḥarām job until I save up, then quit’ — the wealth itself remains tainted; the Prophet ﷺ's example shows urgency.
- ⚠Spending ḥarām wealth on charity does not erase the sin of earning it — repentance and (where possible) restitution are required.
Related Hadiths
Memorization Progress