Monday, September 1, 2025, is the 8th of Rabi al-Awwal, 1447 A.H., which marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hasan al-Askari (p).

When Work Blinds the Soul

We live in a world that constantly pushes us to do more, earn more, and achieve more. From the moment we wake up, our minds are flooded with tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities. It is easy to become so consumed with chasing a livelihood that we forget the very purpose for which we were created.

It is in this context that the words of Imam Hasan al-Askari (p) strike so deeply, “Do not let a guaranteed sustenance occupy you from an incumbent act” [Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 489].

The Illusion of Control

Our sustenance is already written. The food we eat, the money we earn, the shelter we find — all of it has been decreed by God. Yet, many of us live as though it will slip away unless we chase it endlessly. We rise early, stay late, and push ourselves harder in the pursuit of what is already guaranteed.

But in the process, something far more precious is neglected. The prayer gets delayed. The Qur’an remains unopened. The heart, eager to remember God, becomes weighed down by constant distractions. What is promised becomes the very thing that robs us of what is eternal.

The Imam’s Reminder

Imam al-Askari’s words are not a condemnation of work. Islam encourages effort, earning, and providing for one’s family. But the danger lies in allowing livelihood to overshadow our obligations to God. When the temporary replaces the eternal, we begin to trade away what truly matters.

This is why the Imam’s reminder strikes so deeply: sustenance is already secured, but the soul’s salvation depends on our actions.

The Marks of Neglect

Each time we abandon a prayer or postpone a duty, the soul bears the weight of that neglect. At first, it feels small, hardly noticeable. But gradually, the light of the heart dims. What was once a vibrant connection with God becomes clouded, heavy, and distant.

These moments are not just lapses in discipline. They are wounds upon the soul. And yet, they also serve as gentle warnings, urging us to realign before the distance becomes too great.

What Truly Lasts

The truth is simple. Our jobs will not follow us into the grave. Our wealth, no matter how much we gather, will not stand beside us on the Day of Judgment. What will remain are our deeds, the prayers offered, the acts of obedience fulfilled, the moments we remembered God when the world tried to pull us away.

This is what truly lasts. This is what defines our eternity.

A Call to Trust

The Imam’s words invite us to pause and reflect: Have I allowed the pursuit of sustenance to distract me from my duties to God? If so, the path back is always open.

God never forgets. He never withholds. He never abandons His servant. Our provision is safe with Him, but our souls depend on the choices we make today.

So let us return to Him. Let us trust in His promise. Let us anchor our hearts in prayer and let our souls be fed before our bodies. For in His care, we find not only sustenance but also peace.

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For more information about Imam Hasan al-Askari (p), click here.

(Click here to learn about varying dates for Islamic events.)