As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuhu
He stepped into the little shop with these words. The man inside—who seemed as though he had arrived from another century—lifted his head from the book before him. He received the greeting, motioned with his hand for the guest to sit, then continued reading for a while. At last, he spoke: “Welcome, my dear child. Today we were going to talk about blessing (barakah) , weren’t we?”
All at once, this man appeared to him not poor or modest, but as someone immensely wealthy. When they began to speak, even time itself became blessed. Their voices carried a kind of grace, and words flowed as though they were taking flight into eternity.
“When you greeted me at the door with salām, you made such a prayer that its value cannot be measured. No scale can weigh it, no intellect can grasp it. Do you realize what you asked from Allah for me when you used the word barakah?”
“I just said barakah… I’d learned that from you. But honestly, I haven’t fully understood what blessing really means.”
“You said: ‘O Lord, bestow upon this strange servant of Yours boundless generosity, blessings, spiritual abundance, prosperity, happiness, plenty of sustenance, safety, and beauty.’ What a beautiful prayer—did you even notice?”
“Is that what I said? I’ve grown so unfamiliar with these Islamic concepts, and the secrets they carry…”
“Then let’s begin. May our conversation be blessed, insha’Allah. Barakah means that what one possesses—whether it be wealth, property, food, drink, time, or life itself—becomes sufficient for Allah’s servants and pleases them. And this happens when the person receiving it becomes aware of what they’ve been given, and shows gratitude with words, with conduct, and with acts of worship.”
“When we give thanks, we witness that the things we’re grateful for are blessed—that they suffice, that they bring us joy. And that witnessing is the very heart of barakah: to realize from Whom it came.”
“I’d like to ask something.”
“Of course, go ahead, my dear child.”
How Is Blessing (Barakah) Increased?
By being mindful, at every moment, of what has been granted
By ceasing to complain, learning contentment, and giving thanks
By avoiding all forms of waste—whether of money, time, food, or drink
By keeping both oneself and one’s home clean
By rising early
O Allah! Bless my nation in their early mornings (in the works they begin in those hours).
(Abū Dāwūd, Jihād, 78; Tirmidhī, Buyū‘, 6)
By increasing prayers, remembrance, and acts of worship
By reading the Qur’an and its commentary regularly
By spreading salām and greeting one’s household consistently
By giving regular charity and zakāt
By practicing patience and trust in God
By treating others—especially one’s family—with kindness, a warm smile, compassion, mercy, and respect
“And do you know what happens when you do all this? Your day is blessed, your time expands. You’ll find yourself saying, ‘So much fit into this day!’ Your sustenance is blessed. Your meals are blessed. Your life becomes blessed. Even your writing is blessed—six hundred thousand handwritten copies are produced, millions read them, and the more they’re read, the more blessing they carry.”
“Whatever you once thought insufficient becomes more than enough with Allah’s blessing. The mystery of barakah cannot be reasoned out; those who rely on calculation alone cannot understand it. Two people may earn the same income, live under the same conditions—yet one is never satisfied, always struggling, always complaining. The other lives with ease, in abundance and serenity, always thanking his Creator.”
“Barakah is a gift, a divine favor bestowed upon Allah’s servants. I’ve always been struck with awe whenever I’ve witnessed it. May my Lord grant me barakah, and the awareness to see it when it comes.”
“And as you know, what we speak of is affirmed in the Book of Allah:”
If you are grateful, I will surely increase My favor upon you
(Surat Ibrahim, 14:7)
“You also know, don’t you, that the life of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was full of miraculous examples of barakah?”
“This barakah… it is a miraculous thing. As I said before, it cannot be fully explained by reason.”
“And as you know, the Risale-i Nur is overflowing with examples of barakah. Since these things cannot always be explained by logic, they must be regarded as a divine favor—a gift, wouldn’t you say?”
“So then, let me offer you a few examples teberrüken—for blessing, if you will:”
According to the degree of service, there is a development, expansion, relief, and blessing in my heart, body, mind, and livelihood.
I live with frugality and blessing. I do not take favors from anyone other than my Provider.
Indeed, the light, heat, blessing, and others that come to the earth come from the heavens.
Bismillah—what a great, inexhaustible power; what a vast, unending blessing.
“I know. This thing called barakah is not something that can be easily explained. That’s why I say—just live it, and see for yourself.”
“Come now. Let us make a prayer and head to the mosque. Listen—the adhan is being called. We are being invited to blessing…”
O God! For the sake of the blessing of the Noble Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, grant blessing to the physical and spiritual sustenance You have bestowed upon us! Amin.
