After a decade running my own business, I realized this about provision and blessing
Here's an example: a customer orders food and lives 10 minutes away by car, but 35 minutes if I walk. Either way, the payment is 20 euros. The walking option takes more time and effort, but the result-the rizq-is the same amount. I understand that being self-employed means following Allah's commands: don’t lie or cheat customers, be honest and transparent. The real reward isn’t necessarily more money or barakah in wealth, but, insha'Allah, earning a place among the shuhada on Yawm al-Qiyamah. For ten years, I've been working around 70 hours a week, with maybe 12 days off a year. What I earn is barely enough to get by. On top of that, most of my income goes to support my parents because they never really pursued stable jobs. Now, they have no retirement income because they never paid into the system. Honestly, I'm exhausted. I pray my five daily salah, I make dua often, but things haven't changed. Sometimes it feels like my only role is to provide for my parents and pay taxes. Is this my test for the next years? To keep pushing until I'm completely drained, accumulating debt I can never escape-even if I closed the business and found another job, just to pay rent and chip away at debts for years? With every financial transaction, I say Alhamdulillah. Whether it's for bills I'd rather not pay or for spending on my family. Am I missing something here?