Recitation For Finding a Job

The
Islamic way is a way of means and measures; it directs hearts and minds to
deal with facts and reality and interact with the cosmic laws that Allah has
established in His creation, including putting trust in Allah (tawakkul) and
relying in one’s heart on Him to achieve one’s goals. 

The
life of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was based on
facts and reality interwoven with means and measures. His life was full of
sacrifices, putting up with hardship and patience in waiting to see the
results of his efforts, and this is what Allah willed should be an example
to follow for mankind after him. No one can hope to attain the highest
levels in this world by merely reciting verses without striving and making
an effort. 

This
world, sweet and bitter, difficult and easy, is something that the Muslim
must interact properly with. He should be patient in dealing with its
annoyances and put up with its difficulties, seeking the pleasure of Allah
thereby, and he should take appropriate measures, and put his trust in Allah
in all his affairs, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Then
when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah
loves those who put their trust (in Him)” [3:159]. 

There
are means of earning a living, both physical and spiritual. 

The
physical means include making an effort, searching, striving and not giving
up. If a person does not succeed in finding one job, he has to look for
another, and so on. 

The
spiritual means prescribed in sharee‘ah (Islamic law) are many. We will list
some of them here: 

1.

Fearing Allah (taqwa), which means doing what Allah has commanded and
refraining from what He has forbidden. Allah says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“And
whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him
to get out (from every difficulty).

And
He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine” [65:2-3]. 

2.

Seeking forgiveness (istighfar). Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“I [Nooh]
said (to them): ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is
Oft‑Forgiving;

‘He
will send rain to you in abundance,

‘And
give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and
bestow on you rivers” [71:10-12]. 

And
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And
(commanding you): “Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in
repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and
bestow His abounding grace to every owner of grace (i.e. the one who helps
and serves the needy and deserving, physically and with his wealth, and even
with good words). But if you turn away, then I fear for you the torment of a
Great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)” [11:3]. 

Hence
al-‘Allamah Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned istighfar
(seeking forgiveness) in the eighteenth chapter of his book al-Wabil al-Sayyib
among the adhkar (words of remembrance) that bring provision and ward off
difficulty and hardship. 

3.

Du‘a
(supplication).

It
was narrated from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to say after Fajr
prayer: “Allahumma inni as aluka rizqan tayyiban wa ‘ilman naafi‘an wa
‘amalan mutaqabbalan (O Allah, I ask You for a good (halal) provision,
beneficial knowledge and accepted deeds).” [Ahmad, Ibn Maajah].

Yahya
ibn Mu‘adh al-Razi (d. 258 AH) — who was one of the elite of the salaf
(early generations) — said: “Obedience is stored up in the stores of Allah;
its key is du‘a and its means is permissible earnings. End quote.  

To
sum up: 

We do
not know any specific surah in the Quran which is proven in any (sound)
report to bring provision and make it easy to earn a living, but fearing
Allah (taqwa) in general — which includes reading and pondering the Quran
— is one of the means prescribed in sharee‘ah to bring provision. At the
same time it is essential to take appropriate physical measures and rely on
Allah in one’s heart to make things easier. 

And
Allah knows best.