Abstaining from work can only be blamed on Muslims rather than on Islam itself as it calls for perseverance and adherence to work, be it in this world or in the Hereafter. Allah the Exalted said in the holy Quran: (O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salat (prayer) on the day of Friday (Jumu’ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allah [Jumu’ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salat (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing), that is better for you if you did but know. Then when the (Jumu’ah) Salat (prayer) is finished, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allah (by working, etc), and remember Allah much, that you may be successful.
And when they see some merchandise or some amusement [beating of Tambur (drum) etc.] they disperse headlong to it, and leave you (Muhammad) standing [while delivering Jumu’ah’s religious talk (Khutbah)]. Say “That which Allah has is better than any amusement or merchandise! And Allah is the Best of providers.)
Islam not only calls for establishing worships and being sincere in worshiping God but also urges Muslims to perform worldly work without forgetting to mention God, thus striking a balance between man’s spiritual and material aspects.
This balance releases human’s constructive powers and makes them able to give, and building coherent societies and puts everything within the parameters of the Islamic legitimacy. Every Muslim has to understand how to strike such a balance so that they can turn their lives from dependence on others to self-reliance and find their lives on their own true concepts.
His Eminence Shaikh Ahmed al Khalili, Grand Mufti of the Sultanate .
Reference: omanobserver.om
