Barakah; A Concept Helping to Increase Blessings

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Everything in this world has a quantity and can be measured. That something is small or large in quantity does not determine its worth as sometimes little things have produced great outcomes and vice versa. This is because of the Barakah that is in them.

The words Barakah and Mubarak are known in the culture of Muslims. They mean increase in blessings and earning more through means other than material ones. In the religious culture, if one receives divine blessings in an imperceptible way, they say Barakah has arrived.

Late Allameh Tabatabaei in his Quran exegesis Al-Mizan raises the question of whether Barakah undermines divine Sunnah (laws) in the system of creation and whether it breaks chain of causes and effects. How can something that has a limited capacity produce benefits more than its capacity? He says in a short answer: The will of God in creating Barakah is in the Touli (longitudinal) series of causes (creating a cause beyond material affairs) not in their Arz (effects of material affairs).

God has put Barakah in everything. It is like an inherent aptitude that needs to blossom. For example time has been given to all human beings. But it is everyone’s choice to decide how to use it. Some spend time in doing useless things while some others try to make use of their time to do things that benefit themselves and others.

God gives Barakah to some people’s lifetime. For example someone may live 70 years but do things whose outcomes bear fruits for hundreds of years. There have been people who have lived a short life but done great and lasting things that have helped many generations afterward.  

As well as time, the concept of Barakah may be added to a place. Some places have positive energy and good and humanitarian works are implemented in them but some other places lack such qualities. In the Quran, some places have been mentioned as having Barakah: “Exalted is He who carried His worshiper (Prophet Muhammad) to travel in the night from the Sacred Mosque to the Furthest Mosque which We have blessed around it so that We might show him some of Our signs. He is the Hearer, the Seer.” (Surah Al-Isra, verse 1)

Or in another verse, God says: “When he came to it, he was called from the right bank in the blessed plot of the tree (he heard speech without letter or voice coming from all directions): ‘Moses, I am Allah, Lord of the Worlds.’” (Surah Al-Qasas, verse 30)

Having Barakah in one’s life, financial affairs, where he lives or other things depends on one’s conduct. If one is willing to use whatever he has in the best way and for the best causes, God will help them and give them more by granting them Barakah.