If Your Fortune Is Already Arranged, Why Are You Still Panicking About Perfect Competition?
Have you ever felt anxious when you see your neighbor’s business getting busier, while your own shop is quiet? Or when a new business suddenly pops up selling similar products, and you feel a nagging worry: “Oh my, what if my customers move there?”
It’s natural, as humans strive for perfection in a competitive world. But if that fear leads to narrow-mindedness, envy, and even suspicion, as if our fortune can be snatched away by others, then that’s precisely where our monotheism is tested.
We often say, “Our fortune is determined by Allah ﷻ .” But when a competitor becomes popular, that belief immediately wavers. We verbally say we “believe in fate,” but in our hearts we still believe that fortune is like a cake, as if someone else gets a big slice, our share gets less.
This is where this article wants to invite us all to be honest with ourselves: Do we really believe in Allah ﷻ as Ar-Razzāq, or do we just memorize it in our heads but it has not yet reached our hearts or actions?
Fortune is never exchanged
There is a sentence from Umar bin Al-Khattab radhiyallāhu ‘anhu that we often hear, but we rarely truly appreciate its meaning:
“What is ordained for you will not pass you by, and what is not for you you will never obtain.”
(Narrated by Ibnu Abid Dunya in Buku at-Tawakkul no. 91)
This sentence is simple, but its meaning is profound. From before we were born, Allah ﷻ has determined every portion of our sustenance in great detail.
Allah ﷻ says:
وَفِي السَّمَاءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ
“And in the sky is your sustenance and what was promised to you.”
( Qur’an Surah Adz-Dzariyat : 22)
This verse emphasizes that sustenance is a promise from Allah ﷻ , not the result of the most competitive or the most strategic. Every creature, from humans to the tiny ants under rocks, has its own share, guaranteed by Allah ﷻ .
So, it’s not about who promotes the most or opens branches the quickest. It’s about how confident we are that Allah ﷻ will keep His promises. The problem is, we’re often too busy spying on other people’s businesses. Seeing the competition, our hearts start to get angry. We forget that perhaps that’s the part Allah ﷻ entrusted to them, not us.
Provisions never arrive at the wrong address. What’s often misdirected is our hearts, preoccupied with other people’s needs, forgetting to be grateful and correct our intentions when we’re being judged.
Also read: The Benefit of Investing Since Youth
Be Careful, Jealousy Will Erode Tawhid
Be careful, because the fear of losing competitiveness can turn into envy.
At first, I just thought, “How can he be so busy?” But then it changed to, “I think he’s using the wrong method…”
Be careful, because envy can slowly destroy monotheism.
Rasulullah ﷺ once said:
إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْحَسَدَ، فَإِنَّ الْحَسَدَ يَأْكُلُ الْحَسَنَاتِ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ النَّارُ الْحَطَبَ
“Avoid envy, because envy devours good deeds just as fire devours firewood.” ( Hadith narrated by Abu Dawud )
Imagine, we are tired of worshipping, giving alms, doing halal work, but all that goodness can be wasted just because of envy of other people’s success.
Jealousy arises because we feel Allah is unfair. Subhanallah , but if we believe that Allah ﷻ is Most Just, we should be at peace. Perhaps Allah ﷻ gives them more because their trials are more severe. And perhaps our seemingly small fortune is actually more blessed, bringing peace of mind, more free time, and a more blessed life.
Also read: How to Build Tawakkal in Allah ﷻ While Doing Business
Replace Envy with Prayer and Gratitude
Instead of being busy calculating people’s turnover, it’s better to be busy counting the blessings that Allah ﷻ has given us.
Sometimes we forget that blessings aren’t just about money. There’s health, family, free time, loyal customers, and even new ideas that pop into our heads. These are also forms of sustenance.
If you want your business to grow, don’t pray “I hope he fails”, but pray “I hope Allah ﷻ will also open a way for me .”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَا يَؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ
“None of you will believe until he loves his brother as he loves himself.” ( Hadith from Bukhari and Muslim)
If we can sincerely pray for others to succeed in a halal way, insyaAllah, it is a sign that our faith has begun to mature in perfect competition.
And don’t forget, gratitude is a magnet for good fortune.
Allah ﷻ says:
لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ْ
“If you are grateful, I will surely increase your blessings.” (Quran Surah Ibrahim: 7)
Also read: Qarun: A Story of Arrogance and Wealth
Conclusion: Fortune is a test, not a competition
In the end, fortune is not about who is the fastest, but who is the most obedient.
Perfect competition in business is fine, as long as it’s healthy and honest. But if you start to fear losing your livelihood, it might be a sign that you don’t fully trust Ar-Razzāq.
Provisions are not a competition between people, but a test from Allah ﷻ for us. Will we remain faithful, grateful, and honest in seeking them? Or will we do the opposite, ultimately leading to sin.
Let’s calm down. Don’t be busy measuring other people’s fortune, but busy yourself improving your deeds and intentions. Because what makes a business grow is not just strategy, but blessings from Allah ﷻ .
“Be calm, because no soul will die before it has fully received its sustenance.”
(Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah)
Also read: Prophet Sulaiman عليه السلام The Grateful Rich King
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Reference:
Al-Qur’an. Al-karim. Accessed from: https://quran.com
Abu Dawud, Sulaiman ibn al-Ash’ath. Sunan Abu Dawud , no. 4903. Riyadh: Darussalam, 2007. Accessed from: https://sunnah.com/abudawud:4903
Bukhari, Muhammad ibn Ismail & Muslim, Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj. Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim . Riyadh: Darussalam, 2007. Accessed from: https://sunnah.com/bukhari:13 and https://sunnah.com/muslim
Ibn Majah, Muhammad ibn Yazid. Sunan Ibn Majah , no. 2144. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 2000. Accessed from: https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:2144
