The Blessed Coin: A Tale of Halal Earning and Divine Blessing

The Blessed Coin: A Tale of Honest Earning

BY:Ubaid

On the back of every currency note in Pakistan is written a simple but profound statement: “Earning through Halal (lawful) means is a form of worship.”

This phrase is not just symbolic. Islam gives glad tidings to all those who earn honestly, feed their families with lawful earnings, and live by integrity. A person who strives for Halal livelihood is showered with blessings, mercy, good health, obedient children, and a successful life. Such a person, as many Islamic traditions teach us, is beloved to Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The best food a man eats is that which he earns with his own hands.”

Many prophets worked in simple professions. Some herded sheep, some engaged in trade, and Prophet Dawood (David, peace be upon him) crafted armor with his own hands. The iron would soften for him like wax, and he shaped it as he pleased. Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) spent time in his youth with a dyer. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also herded sheep and engaged in business before receiving prophethood.

No matter the profession—be it farming, trade, labor, or office work—if it is honest and lawful, it is considered the best source of livelihood.

Among the great Muslim rulers, one name often stands out: Aurangzeb Alamgir, the Mughal emperor. Unlike many kings who indulged in luxury, Aurangzeb earned his personal living through copying the Holy Qur’an by hand, sewing caps, and weaving prayer mats. He never used the royal treasury for himself.

This story revolves around him and his teacher, Mullah Ahmad Jiwan, a revered scholar of his time.


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The Teacher and the King

Aurangzeb had studied under Mullah Ahmad Jiwan in his youth. When Aurangzeb became king, he invited his teacher for a visit. At that time, Mullah Jiwan ran a large religious seminary where thousands of students studied the Qur’an and Islamic sciences. During the month of Ramadan, he would close the seminary for a month so students could rest, fast, and engage in worship.

When Aurangzeb’s invitation arrived, Mullah Jiwan accepted. The reunion was warm, full of mutual respect and spiritual conversations. But after a month, Mullah Jiwan prepared to return. Aurangzeb requested him to stay longer, but the teacher declined, saying that the students’ education would suffer.

Before parting, Aurangzeb offered his teacher a token of respect—a single coin, a quarter rupee (chawanni). Mullah Jiwan accepted it and departed.

Years passed. Fourteen years later, Aurangzeb heard a rumor that his old teacher had become a wealthy landlord with horses, servants, and a large estate. Some whispered that he no longer lived in the simplicity he once preached.

Curious, Aurangzeb sent an envoy inviting Mullah Jiwan again. When the teacher arrived, he looked as humble as ever—dressed simply, speaking modestly, showing no pride or extravagance.


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The Coin of Blessing

During one of their conversations, Mullah Jiwan revealed something remarkable:

“Aurangzeb, do you remember that small coin you once gave me? That coin carried immense blessing. With it, I bought cotton seeds and planted them. Allah put so much barakah (blessing) in that effort that my fields flourished. Year after year, the yield multiplied until I was able to establish much of what people see today. All from that one coin.”

Aurangzeb smiled knowingly. “My teacher, do you know why that coin carried so much blessing? It was earned with Halal labor.”

To prove his point, Aurangzeb summoned a Hindu merchant from Chandni Chowk named Uttam Chand, who had kept detailed ledgers of trade and accounts for decades. When the royal envoy asked for the ledger from that specific year, the merchant grew nervous but complied.

Flipping through the old pages, he came across an entry: “Paid one quarter rupee for labor, name of worker unknown.”

The merchant explained: “That night, during a heavy rainstorm, my house flooded, and the roof began to leak. Desperate, I ran outside and saw a man carrying a lantern. I asked if he would work for me. He agreed. Together, we removed furniture, patched the roof with mud, and returned everything inside. It took us the whole night. At dawn, when the work was done, I reached into my pocket but found only a single quarter rupee. I gave it to him, ashamed it was so little, and invited him to my shop the next day for more payment. But he refused, saying, ‘This is enough for me.’”

Aurangzeb turned to his teacher and revealed: “That man was me. I often roam among the people in disguise to learn of their lives. That coin I gave you was my wage from that night’s labor.”

Mullah Jiwan’s eyes filled with tears. “No wonder there was so much blessing in it. Allah places unimaginable barakah in wealth earned honestly. That coin carried the purity of Halal labor, and everything that grew from it was filled with divine grace.”


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The Lesson

Aurangzeb replied softly, “This is why I insist on sustaining myself through Qur’an calligraphy, sewing caps, and weaving mats. The royal treasury is a trust, not for my personal use. True richness lies in Halal earning.”

Mullah Jiwan nodded. “Indeed, the secret to a life of blessing is simple: earn lawfully, spend honestly, and trust Allah’s mercy.”

The story of the Blessed Coin reminds us that wealth is not measured by how much we have, but by the blessing Allah places in it. A single Halal coin can bring more prosperity than mountains of ill-gotten wealth.

May we all strive to live with such honesty and integrity. Ameen.