Some of us hesitate in responding to Allah's command, or may even take a job that involves something unlawful and help the people of falsehood in their wrongdoing. Why? Out of fear of poverty. During the prophetic period, the economy of Makkah was based on trade... There was not much agriculture or oil extraction in Makkah, at the time. After the Muslims' liberation of Makkah, many of the Arabs in the peninsula were still polytheists. They used to go to the sacred mosque (Ka'aba) which they too used to glorify, and they would trade all different sorts of goods with Muslims. At this point the command from Allah came to cut off this source which might be the sole and most important for the economy of Makkah! Allah Almighty says what can be translated as, "Indeed, the polytheists are impure; so let them not approach the Sacred Mosque after this year..." (9:28) "Not approach the sacred mosque" means that the polytheists no longer have any business going to Makkah, consequently the trade will be cut off, and the economy of Makkah will collapse. This was what it meant from a materialistic worldly standpoint. Yet Allah, with His Mercy, comforts the Muslims and says in the same Ayah what can be translated as, "... And If you fear poverty, Allah will enrich you out of His bounty, if He wills." (9:28) But note here how Allah says, "If He wills". If He wills to enrich you, He would; whereas you must obey the command regardless of this assurance that Allah has given you. It's not for you to stipulate an elaboration from Allah on how He is going to compensate or provide sustenance for you in order to obey His command. Rather, you must obey then Allah will enrich you if He wills. How will He enrich them? He didn't tell them. The companions obeyed and did what would -from a materialistic perspective- cause the economy to collapse. So Allah ordained Jizya (head-tax), in the Ayah right after this one in the same Surah, and He empowered them over the whole Arabian peninsula and beyond. So it brought welfare for the cities, villages, and populaces whom the companions have brought forth from worshiping other people to worshiping Allah alone, and from the injustice of other religions and the monopoly of the ruling lobbyists over wealth to the justice of Islam. It also bore good for the Muslims whom Allah has compensated for their loss of trade. My brothers and sisters, if we respond to Allah's command out of trust in His Wisdom and Mercy, He will not neglect us. All while remembering that the Muslim is required to take the necessary worldly means and to adhere fully to all of Allah's commands and not just in part, and among that is pursuing livelihood and acquiring the necessary knowledge for it, cutting down on luxuries and avoiding wastefulness. These Qur'anic texts are not bound by an expiry date, Allah forbid! Rather, they are an everlasting truth. If you were ever offered a job that involves prohibitions, remember that the one who sustained the people of Makkah in the middle of the desert with no resources is definitely capable of providing sustenance for you, but He is testing your Faith. "...And if you fear privation, Allah will enrich you from His bounty if He wills. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Wise." (9:28) 📝𝐃𝐫. 𝐄𝐲𝐚𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐛𝐢