قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيُّ شَيْءٍ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ فَقَالَ إِذَا فَتَحْتَ بَابَكَ وَ بَسَطْتَ بِسَاطَكَ فَقَدْ قَضَيْتَ مَا عَلَيْكَ.
“I asked abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.), ‘What should a man do for work to make a living?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘If you open your door and spread your merchandise, you then have done what you should have been doing.’”
قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع أَيَّ شَيْءٍ تُعَالِجُ أَيَّ شَيْءٍ تَصْنَعُ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنَا فِي شَيْءٍ قَالَ فَخُذْ بَيْتاً وَ اكْنُسْ فِنَاهُ وَ رُشَّهُ وَ ابْسُطْ فِيهِ بِسَاطاً فَإِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ قَضَيْتَ مَا وَجَبَ عَلَيْكَ قَالَ فَقَدِمْتُ فَفَعَلْتُ فَرُزِقْتُ.
Find a house, (a facility) broom its yards, sprinkle water around, spread the merchandise on it. In doing this you have done what should have been done.’ I (the narrator) followed his instruction and found sustenance.’”