Muhammad Hafeez from New Delhi:
‘My question is which zikr should we practise or which prayer should we recite before a new business venture?’
What to Recite for Prosperity in Business
Start doing the zikr of whatever work you are starting.
If you’re selling rice, do the zikr of rice...
What you actually need to do is focus on your work;
work lawfully,
do not be deceitful
and God shall automatically bring prosperity to your business.
If you recite prayers while your heart is full of corruption and you bear ill intentions then how can you expect blessings?
Do not steal anyone’s belongings, do not lie, do not be deceitful.
Pay the right amount when you buy
and give the right amount when you sell.
All of these things are necessary.
Just say God’s name and start your business with honesty and sincerity and God shall make your business thrive.
Make life simple.
Take the Lord’s name and begin.
I once heard in Pakistan
that when you pass by the shrine of a saint, you must recite Fatiha.
This has been a considerable issue for me
as there is an abundance of shrines throughout Karachi.
If you’re on the bus, ‘Oh look, that’s so and so’s shrine!’
It became such a problem.
If you were to go past my house in Pakistan,
you would reach Rexar colony
after which comes a bridge
and after the bridge comes Pakistan Quarters.
So you’re in Pakistan Quarters
and when you want to travel ahead towards Saddar,
on the left you have Juman Shah Bukhari’s shrine
and on the right, you have Shah Rukn e Alam’s shrine
and on the other side you have another saint’s shrine.
One becomes a complete fool.
Honest to God,
one day, I was travelling to Saddar
and on the way I had to recite Fatiha so many times that I forgot why I was going there!
Now, this became a genuine problem
so one day, I proffered this question in the Lord’s court:
‘Master, is it necessary to recite Fatiha at every shrine?’
The Lord said, ‘Not really.
When you happen upon a shrine, say ‘’Salaam’’ and be on your way’.
That brought peace to my life once again.
‘Samalaykum’... and off I went.
Otherwise, Mansoor told me that I must recite Fatiha or else the saint would become displeased with me.
The saint will become displeased with me… but I passed by anyway.
So, you only need to take God’s name and start your business.
God looks at your intentions.
Don’t deprive anyone of their belongings,
do not be fraudulent, do not deceive anyone.
Right?
Earn lawfully, eat lawful provisions and blessings shall abound.
Reciting the Qur’an didn’t bring about a change in your faith
so how will it do anything for your business?
People think what I say is bitter like a bitter gourd
but it’s also the truth!
Your recitations didn’t have an effect on your faith,
you’re still the same as you were,
so how can it have an effect on your business?
Keep it simple.