Many people equate barakah simply with having more money or a higher salary. However, from the Islamic perspective, barakah means far more than just material wealth. It is a divine blessing and increase from Allah that manifests in various aspects of life, including health, family, peace, contentment, and spiritual gains. This article aims to provide a deep understanding of what barakah truly is, how it grows, and how much barakah we may already possess without realizing it. Grounded in the Holy Quran and authentic Hadith, the article also explains why many Muslims today feel a lack of barakah despite their efforts and suggests practical steps to invite and increase barakah in daily life.
Understanding Barakah: A Divine Blessing Beyond Numbers
The Meaning and Essence of Barakah
The Arabic word barakah (بَرَكَة) linguistically means stability, firmness, growth, and continuous benefit. When something has barakah, even a little can be made abundant, and when applied to much, it preserves and benefits it.
Allah describes the Quran as a source of barakah:
وَهَـٰذَا كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ مُبَارَكࣱ مُّصَدِّقُ ٱلَّذِی بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡهِ وَلِتُنذِرَ أُمَّ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ وَمَنۡ حَوۡلَهَاۚ وَٱلَّذِینَ یُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةِ یُؤۡمِنُونَ بِهِۦۖ وَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمۡ یُحَافِظُونَ
And this is a Book which We have sent down, blessed and confirming what was before it, that you may warn the Mother of Cities and those around it. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they are maintaining their prayers.
[6:92]
This shows barakah can multiply goodness, continuity, and positive impact beyond the obvious quantity.
Different Aspects of Barakah Beyond Wealth and Their Manifestations
Barakah is not limited to money. It shows up in many forms:
1. Health and Well-being
Good health is a priceless barakah. It enables a person to worship, work, and fulfill responsibilities with energy and ease.
2. Family and Relationships
Having a loving spouse, obedient and good children, and kind neighbors are all great forms of barakah that bring comfort and peace.
3. Contentment and Peace of Mind
True barakah manifests as calmness in the heart, satisfaction with what Allah has provided, and absence of stress and worry.
4. Time
Barakah in time means being able to use your limited hours productively for beneficial deeds, worship, and rest.
5. Knowledge and Wisdom
Being granted knowledge and the ability to act upon it is a form of barakah that benefits a person in both this life and the hereafter.
6. Sustenance with Blessings
More than just quantity, barakah in sustenance means having food and income that bring health, satisfaction, and lawful ease.
Quranic Insight
Allah says:
“If the people of the towns had believed and feared Allah, We would have certainly opened up for them blessings from the heaven and the earth.”
[Surah Al-A’raf, Ayah 96]
وَلَوۡ أَنَّ أَهۡلَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰۤ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوۡا۟ لَفَتَحۡنَا عَلَیۡهِم بَرَكَـٰتࣲ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَاۤءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَـٰكِن كَذَّبُوا۟ فَأَخَذۡنَـٰهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ یَكۡسِبُونَ
And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning.”
[7:96]
How to Identify Barakah in Our Lives According to Islamic Teachings?
To recognize barakah in your life, reflect on:
- Is there peace and harmony in your home and relationships?
- Do you have good health to fulfill your duties?
- Are you able to find contentment and gratitude despite challenges?
- Can you use your time effectively for good causes?
- Is your income stable and brings you ease without worry?
Lack of constant tension, presence of sincere faith, and small but meaningful gains are signs of barakah.
Why Do Many Muslims Feel a Lack of Barakah Despite Their Efforts?
Several reasons include:
- Measuring success only by wealth or visible gains.
- Forgetting to express gratitude to Allah for existing blessings.
- Engaging in forbidden means to gain more which removes barakah.
- Overlooking simple blessings like health and family in pursuit of material success.
Barakah is ultimately a gift from Allah, dependent on faith, gratitude, and obedience.
Quranic Verses and Hadith Describing True Essence and Sources of Barakah
Quranic Verses
وَإِذۡ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمۡ لَىِٕن شَكَرۡتُمۡ لَأَزِیدَنَّكُمۡۖ وَلَىِٕن كَفَرۡتُمۡ إِنَّ عَذَابِی لَشَدِیدࣱ
And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.’ “
[14:7]
وَنَزَّلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَاۤءِ مَاۤءࣰ مُّبَـٰرَكࣰا فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتࣲ وَحَبَّ ٱلۡحَصِیدِ
And We have sent down blessed rain from the sky and made grow thereby gardens and grain from the harvest
[50:9]
Hadith
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“There is barakah in three things: the congregation, the dish (tharid), and the pre-dawn meal (suhoor).”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 2350)
This shows that barakah even blesses simple acts, community, and times of worship.
Practical Steps to Increase Barakah in Daily Life and Spirituality
- Express Gratitude Frequently: Thank Allah sincerely for every blessing.
- Avoid Haram (Forbidden) Means: Wealth or food acquired unlawfully removes barakah.
- Give Charity (Sadaqah): It purifies wealth and invites more blessings.
- Maintain Strong Family and Community Ties: Relationships are a source of barakah.
- Recite and Implement the Quran: The Quran is a source of barakah and guidance.
- Choose Contentment Over Greed: Be satisfied to create space for barakah to grow.
- Perform Regular Prayer and Dhikr (Remembrance): Spiritual connection invites divine blessings.
- Practice Patience (Sabr) During Difficulties: Barakah manifests even through tested faith.
