Two types of livelihood: worldly pursuit and spiritual seeking

Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 431

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 3, Chapter 431

Two types of livelihood: worldly pursuit and spiritual seeking

Hadith #545

٤٣١. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): الرِّزْقُ رِزْقَانِ: طَالِبٌ، وَمَطْلُوبٌ، فَمَنْ طَلَبَ الدُّنْيَا طَلَبَهُ الْمَوْتُ حَتَّى يُخْرِجَهُ عَنْهَا، وَمَنْ طَلَبَ الْآخِرَةَ طَلَبَتْهُ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَ رِزْقَهُ مِنْهَا.

431. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Livelihood is of two kinds: the seeker and the sought. Therefore, he who hankers after this world death traces him till it turns him out of it; but he who hankers after the next world, worldly ease itself seeks him till he receives his livelihood from it.