Give A Man A Fish You Feed Him For A Day, Teach Him How To Fish You Feed Him For A Lifetime! By Imam Murtadha Gusau

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and upon all his family and companions.

Dear brothers and sisters! Know that, the idea that it’s better to teach someone to fish than to give them a fish, while a popular proverb, is not an Islamic teaching but a general one emphasising self-sufficiency. Islamic teachings promote charity and helping the poor and the needy, but also strongly encourage knowledge and skill-building as a form of lasting benefit, aligning with the spirit of the proverb. In Islam, the Qur’an and Sunnah stress the importance of providing sustainable solutions for poverty, often through education and empowering people to support themselves.

Islamic teachings emphasise empowering individuals rather than creating dependency, making the “teach a man to fish” concept resonate with the goal of fostering self-reliance.

The concept of teaching a skill, which provides ongoing benefit, aligns with the idea of Sadaqatul Jariyah, where good deeds continue to yield rewards even after a person’s death.

Islam places a high value on knowledge and education, seeing them as powerful tools for improving lives and communities. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) stated that angels and even the fish in water pray for those who teach beneficial knowledge.

Giving a fish provides immediate relief but only for a single day.

Teaching a skill provides the means to earn a living indefinitely, fostering independence and sustainability.

While it’s not an explicit saying from Islamic texts, the wisdom of “teaching someone to fish” aligns with Islamic principles of mercy, compassion, empowerment, and the enduring value of beneficial knowledge and skills.

Respected brothers and sisters! As we all know, this proverb “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime” is a widely known and acceptable saying, but it is not originally from Islamic tradition; rather, it is a concept of sustainable support found in various cultures and religions that aligns with Islamic principles of empowerment and charity, known as Zakat or Sadaqah. Islam encourages not just direct aid but also empowering individuals with self-sufficiency through knowledge, skills, and sustainable income and development, reflecting the broader wisdom of promoting long-term welfare.

Giving someone food (fish) provides immediate relief but is a temporary solution.

Teaching a skill (fishing) provides the means for a person to sustain themselves, making them self-sufficient and providing a long-term solution to their need.

These concepts in Islam involve giving charity and supporting those in need, but the spirit of empowerment is also highly valued.

This refers to “continuous charity” through a beneficial act or useful knowledge, which is said to continue giving rewards after one’s death, highlighting the value of long-term benefit and skill transfer.

Islam emphasises that true charity helps people become independent, fostering self-reliance rather than dependency.

It encourages methods of help that create lasting positive change.

Empowering people with skills recognises their potential to contribute and thrive.

It shifts the focus from short-term fixes to long-term solutions and continuous improvement for individuals and communities.

Therefore, while it’s not an Islamic scripture, the saying’s underlying message of empowerment and sustainable support is perfectly in line with Islamic values, teachings and practices.

Beloved brothers and sisters! Islam places a high religious importance on skill acquisition for all Muslims, viewing it as a divinely mandated obligation rather than a mere choice. This emphasis is rooted in the Qur’an and Hadith (Sunnah), which encourage Muslims to gain practical and intellectual knowledge for self-sufficiency and societal contribution, discouraging laziness and ensuring that no Muslim becomes a burden. The concept of knowledge in Islam extends to acquiring life-enabling skills from any source, anywhere, fostering a self-reliant and empowered Muslim Ummah.

Seeking knowledge and skills is an obligation upon every Muslim, regardless of gender, age, region, tribe or social status.

The Qur’an frequently praises individuals with knowledge, comparing them to those who do not know to encourage the pursuit of learning.

Islam discourages idleness, comparing unwanted and unnecessary begging to holding a burning ember, and mandates engagement in meaningful pursuits to avoid becoming a burden.

The scope of this obligation includes both religious knowledge and life-enabling, practical, and legal skills.

The Prophet Muhammad’s saying to “Go and acquire knowledge even if it is in China (although it’s weak)” emphasises that knowledge is universal and can be sought from any person or place, regardless of its location or cultural origin.

Acquiring skills helps individuals become self-sufficient members of society.

Skill development empowers individuals and society, improving their living standards through knowledge and comprehension.

Skill acquisition is seen as part of a holistic approach to learning, contributing to individual and societal well-being.

The emphasis on knowledge led to prominent scholars in the Islamic Golden Age who made vast contributions in various fields.

Early Islamic civilisation viewed education as a complete way of life, not just academic learning, but a complete holistic approach to knowledge and skill acquisition.

Dear brothers and sisters! Islam promotes self-reliance, hard work, and ethical economic practices to combat youth unemployment, emphasising that idleness is discouraged and that seeking a livelihood through means approved by Shari’ah is a religious duty. Strategies such as promoting Islamic finance, fostering entrepreneurial skills, and investing in programs for skill development and mentorship are proposed as ways to address unemployment within an Islamic framework.

Islamic teachings emphasise individual responsibility to earn a living and foster a mindset of self-reliance, with a strong disapproval of idleness and begging.

A central tenet of Islam is the pursuit of a decent job through lawful means, which contributes to both personal well-being and the fulfillment of religious obligations.

Islam encourages the development of small businesses and entrepreneurship, as exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad’s own experience in trade.

Instruments of Islamic finance offer solutions to curb unemployment by supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which can create jobs and foster economic growth in a manner consistent with Islamic principles.

Islamic economic principles also advocate for the mobilisation of resources, such as through the collection of Zakat (charitable contributions), to support poor and needy individuals and develop small businesses, thereby reducing poverty and unemployment.

Investing in educational and skill-building programs is crucial, as is creating mentorship and internship opportunities to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical labour market demands.

Collaboration between governments, educational institutions, and private firms is essential to align educational outcomes with market needs and create pathways for youth employment.

Governments at all levels are encouraged to adopt Islamic financing instruments to stimulate economic growth and provide opportunities for young graduates, preventing brain drain and retaining skilled youth within the country.

Islamic societies can play a significant role by defining and promoting the qualifications of an “Islamic economic man” who actively participates in economic pursuits, contributing to self-reliance and the betterment of the Ummah.

Fellow Nigerians! Know that, Islam places significant value on youth, encouraging their spiritual, moral, and intellectual development to become active contributors to their communities and the world. Supporting youth involves providing proper Islamic education, fostering love for Allah and His Messenger, nurturing positive character through examples from the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his companions, and guiding them to uphold justice and resist corruption. The goal is to empower a generation that can serve as the future of the Muslim Ummah and make a positive impact on society.

Islam commanded us to provide a proper Islamic upbringing by teaching the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), instilling a love for Allah and His Messenger and a connection to spiritual principles.

To offer access to Islamic education to cultivate knowledgeable and insightful young individuals who can understand and contribute to their faith and society.

To guide youth to embody virtues like kindness, compassion, truthfulness, and trustworthiness, using the exemplary lives of Prophets and companions as role models.

To recognise youth as the future leaders and the hope of their Ummah, empowering them to participate in shaping a better future.

To encourage young people to actively stand against injustice and corruption in its various forms, whether intellectual, moral, cultural, or social.

To emphasise the Hadith advising youth to make the most of their youth, health, and time, as they are blessings to be utilised before they diminish.

Youth are seen as the future, endowed with the energy, creativity, and resilience to drive positive change within the Ummah and society.

They are called to uphold Islamic values, resist corruption, and act as a force for good in a world facing moral and cultural challenges.

Muslim youth are encouraged to serve their communities through volunteering and social work, contributing to the well-being of society.

Through dedicated worship and remembrance of Allah, young Muslims can achieve a high spiritual standing, earning special honour on the Day of Judgment.

Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa bara ka tuh

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions.