Al-Miqdam b. Ma'dikarib reported God's Messenger as saying, “No one has ever eaten better food than what he eats as a result of the labour of his hands. God’s prophet David used to eat from what he had worked for with his hands.” Bukhari transmitted it.
Exposition of the Hadith
This noble tradition from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) establishes the superior virtue of earning one's livelihood through lawful manual labor and personal effort. The Messenger of God emphasizes that food acquired through one's own labor possesses a unique excellence and blessing that surpasses all other means of sustenance.
Spiritual and Practical Wisdom
The hadith elevates the status of physical labor, countering any notion that manual work is demeaning. Rather, it is presented as a means of attaining divine pleasure and superior sustenance.
By citing Prophet David (peace be upon him) - a noble prophet and king - as an example, the tradition demonstrates that manual labor is honorable regardless of one's social standing. Prophet David, despite his prophethood and kingship, engaged in crafting armor, thus sanctifying honest labor.
Legal and Ethical Implications
This teaching forms the foundation of Islamic business ethics, emphasizing self-reliance and prohibiting dependence on others when one is capable of working. It encourages Muslims to seek lawful earnings (halal rizq) through legitimate means.
The hadith also implicitly warns against begging and unnecessary dependence on charity when one has the capacity to work. It establishes the principle that the laborer is beloved to God and that honest work is itself an act of worship.
Contemporary Application
In modern business contexts, this teaching encourages entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and all forms of legitimate productive work. It reminds believers that wealth earned through honest labor carries both material and spiritual blessings.
The principle extends beyond manual labor to include all forms of productive work through which one earns lawful sustenance, thereby dignifying all honorable professions in society.