Twenty-sixth Ramadan Lecture Presented by Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Badruddin Al-Houthi, 1444 A.H.

Twenty-sixth Ramadan Lecture Presented by Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Badruddin Al-Houthi, 1444 A.H.

The great foundational blessings: agricultural land and animal wealth

I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, the outcast.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Praise is to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I believe that there is no god but Allah, the Sovereign and the Manifest Truth, and that Muhammad, our master, is His servant, Messenger, and Last Prophet.

 O Allah, confer Your salat and blessings upon Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad as You conferred Your salat and blessings upon Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim. You are Owner of Praise, Owner of Glory! And be pleased with Muhammad's good companions and all Your righteous servants and mujahidin.

O Allah, guide us and grant us acceptance, for You are All-Hearing, All-Knowing; accept our repentance, for You are the Relenting and the Merciful.

Brothers and sisters, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

The concern for livelihood and the worry about meeting life's necessities, especially food and essential needs, is the primary and pressing concern that psychologically affects most people and influences their thinking, actions, concerns, and attitudes. This is natural, but it is important to maintain a balance so that it does not overpower the person and lead him astray or cause him to act inappropriately.

With difficult circumstances and the hardships people experience in their lives and livelihoods, this concern grows, and its pressure and influence on people intensify. Therefore, humans need to deal with this concern consciously, with wisdom, insight, faith, and trust in Allah, the Almighty. They should adhere to Taqwa in their concerns and practical activities, as this concern can have a serious impact on people.

When one is in a state of panic and despair, it leaves a significant impact on his behaviour and even his relationship with Allah (Glory be to Him). Many people may act recklessly or be affected by anxiety, severe sadness, and overwhelming despair at the psychological level. Some individuals may even reach a point of mental illness or commit dangerous crimes and actions.

Greed and its dangerous consequences and significant ramifications

The same is also true when a person falls into a state of greed. It is very dangerous for a person to become excessively materialistic and greedy and let the concern for livelihood affect him and get him into a state of great greed and big ambition. Some people may turn to trading in forbidden things.

• For example, some individuals may engage in drug trafficking (May Allah be our refuge). Many people are drawn into it by materialistic temptations and due to their greed and the financial gains they receive. They are ensnared in it with everything that comes with it, including sin, inequity, and severe consequences in real life. They will bear the burden of such consequences before Allah (Glory be to Him), in addition to the potential consequences they may face in this worldly life before the Hereafter.
• Some people resort to selling their religion in exchange for worldly gains and become involved in heinous crimes in this pursuit. This is the case of those many people who aligned themselves with the aggression and fought against their oppressed people to enable the aggressor to take control of their country and its people. They commit killings, crimes, and sins for the sake of money!
• Some individuals engage in trading harmful substances that affect people's health and may even lead to death. For example, those who trade in highly toxic pesticides that cause cancer, viral hepatitis, or any other deadly diseases that kill people. So for the sake of materialistic gains and due to materialistic temptations, they do not care about the harm that might be inflicted upon many individuals as a result of what they buy and sell, whether in what they trade or what they use of these substances.
• Many farmers, for instance, may also resort to using such pesticides in pursuit of money. They want to maximize their agricultural yields or expedite the growth of qat to make more money, disregarding the significant harm this causes to people's lives, health, and the associated financial burden in terms of medical treatment, healthcare, and more. What is the reason behind this? It is greed that some suffer from.
• For instance, some limit all their trade and commercial activities to cigarette trade, buying and selling in that, even though they know the significant harm this product inflicts on people's health and lives. This is the result of greed. When greed overtakes a person, it affects him, and many are the actions driven by greed! We discussed this topic in two lectures that focused on some but not all key points related to this topic.

The state of panic and despair is dangerous for people in their livelihood concerns, just as greed is dangerous. In the pre-Islamic era of ignorance, people's state of panic and despair due to poverty led them to the extreme act of killing their own children. In response, Allah forbade and condemned this practice. When Islam came, it completely forbade the killing of children. They used to kill their own offspring, and then Allah (Glory be to Him) said, {'Do not kill your children out of poverty. We provide for you and for them'}. Some would kill their children, fearing poverty in the future. So Allah (Glory be to Him) said, {'Do not kill your children for fear of poverty'}. This demonstrates the danger of panic and psychological pressure caused by the problem of poverty and destitution.

The remedies provided by Allah (the Almighty) for livelihood concerns

Allah (Glory be to Him) provided significant solutions to this issue. First, He offered guarantees to His servants. One of His names is the Provider: {'Indeed, Allah is the Provider, the Lord of Power, the Ever Mighty'}. As we mentioned regarding the prohibition of killing children for fear or pressure of poverty, Allah reassured and said in one verse, {'We provide for you and for them,'} and in another verse, {'We provide for them and for you'}. Do not worry about their future, for Allah is the Provider, and He takes care of the sustenance of His servants. {'There is no moving creature on the earth whose provision is not guaranteed by Allah'}. He provides reassuring guarantees to His servants.

Also, Allah has outlined the path for His servants to seek sustenance and lawful earnings that are free from sin and do not have severe consequences. In addition to that, Allah bestows goodness and blessings and provides people with proper and good means to acquire their livelihoods. Allah (Glory be to Him) has provided His servants with foundational blessings and what branches out of them: foundational blessings, on which various provisions and benefits depend, and the blessings that are derived from them.

Allah is the Bestower of all blessings, both the foundational ones and those blessings derived from them. That is why Allah (Glory be to Him) says in the Holy Quran, {'We do not ask you to provide. It is We Who provide for you'}. Allah is the Provider, the One Who sustains and provides.

Through this reassurance and these guarantees, the first thing the Holy Quran addresses is the psychological state: the worries and pressures that keep one thinking about how he can manage his livelihood, obtain his sustenance, and provide for himself. Such pressures, which affect many people, can corrupt people, push them towards forbidden acts, and lead them to commit crimes. The Holy Quran offers an important solution at the psychological level: Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for him and provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him'}. And He (Glory be to Him) also says, {'After hardship, Allah will bring about ease'}. Having trust in Allah (Glory be to Him), placing hope in Him, and adhering to Taqwa while seeking sustenance and lawful earnings are a means of goodness, tranquility, and peace of mind.

In addition to the psychological reassurance, there is also an educational aspect. Islam nurtures contentment within us and addresses the issue of greed so that we do not turn into this kind of people who are overtaken by materialistic ambitions to the extent that they become their ultimate focus and concern in this life. It solves this issue and cultivates contentment within us: contentment with Allah's decree, contentment with lawful sustenance, and contentment with what is available to us. In our livelihood and personal life, our primary focus should be on what is necessary and what is within our means.

Furthermore, in addition to fostering contentment, Islam guides us towards prudence in what we do and spend—this is highly important. It forbids wastefulness and extravagance and instructs us to manage our expenses correctly: {' those who spend neither wastefully nor stingily, but moderately in between'}. This saves a lot because among the most dangerous things for people are wastefulness, extravagance, frivolity, negligence, and squandering, which cause them to lose a lot, a lot. There are many details regarding this matter, but we do not have time to focus on them.

Moreover, in the faith-based and Quranic instruction of Islam, we are guided in the Quran to direct our major material aspirations towards the pleasure of Allah and Jannah, towards our eternal life, where goodness is at its purest level, at the highest level. So at the material level, our greatest aspirations, hopes, and desires should always focus on Jannah and what Allah has prepared in Jannah, where life is eternal! That is because this worldly life is a temporary and limited life that will come to an end. We should not lose the opportunity for a happy, eternal, and remarkably elegant life in exchange for a very limited and temporary life that will eventually conclude, leading us to the realm of the Hereafter.

All of this helps one to approach life from a psychological balanced reality, free from extreme psychological pressure, neither succumbing to panic nor being driven by greed. This enables the person to strive for provisions and lawful earnings and to manage his livelihood matters in a balanced way that makes him maintain Taqwa and avoid what is forbidden. However, one should also be while aware of the practice of expanding and restricting provision: {'Allah gives abundant or limited provisions to whoever He wills.'} So Allah chooses what is best for every person, and one's circumstances may also change.

• For example, Allah may test you at certain stages of your life with limited provision, and then grant you abundance in later stages. Your success in the test of restricting provision for you may make Allah expand your provision in the future. Having succeeded in the test of limited provision, you now have the test with abundant provision.
• Similarly, a person may be tested with abundance in his provision, and if he fails in this test, his circumstances may change towards limited provision in other stages of his life.

Factors that can lead to a state of destitution

However, we must also realize that there are certain levels for restricting and expanding one's provision. Sometimes, a person's misery and hardship goes beyond such levels due to one of two factors, sometimes due to both of these two factors:

The first factor is the injustice of the unjust, their stealing of people's wealth, and their oppression against people in their livelihoods. They may be the cause of poverty and destitution that many people suffer from. If people were not subject to their oppression, their situation would be much better, and the state of destitution would not reach such levels. However, this does not mean that all people could turn into wealthy people or merchants, for this cannot go beyond the matter of restricting and expanding provision that is governed by the wisdom of Allah (Glory be to Him) and ensures integration among people in this life, allowing people to remain active in seeking provision. If everyone were to become wealthy, no attention would be paid to the most jobs, and everyone would leave such jobs. Therefore, this is part of the wisdom of Allah, the Almighty.

The second factor is the necessity of seeking provision, working with wisdom and awareness, and taking the necessary steps for success. This also plays a significant role. If a person is negligent, jobless, or unwilling to work and make an effort, this will undoubtedly affect him more. There is a difference between working and not working when it comes to earning lawful sustenance.

Additionally, the manner of work and the field of occupation play a role when it comes to a person's level of misery and suffering. Therefore, a person should take the necessary steps, with awareness, wisdom, hard work, knowledge of the different fields of work, and other aspects.

Among the great foundational blessings: the availability of fertile land for agriculture

As we journey through life and experience its realities, we find that Allah (Glory be to Him) has blessed us with foundational blessings and their branches. One of the most important blessings among the foundational blessings, which is a tremendous blessing from which numerous blessings branch out, is the land—the land suitable for cultivation. When we pay attention to this blessing, invest in it, and benefit from it while expressing gratitude to Allah, this reflects well on us and changes our reality. This blessing is one of the great foundational blessings, and its production, the diverse agricultural crops, provides us with the food we need, substantial material wealth, and a source of trade for people.

Allah (Glory be to Him) says in His holy book, {'He laid out the earth for all beings. In it are fruit, palm trees with date stalks, and grain with husks, and aromatic plants'}—this includes various types of grains, and the husks that benefit animals and livestock, which humans also benefit from. Humans also benefit from grains: {'And grain with husks, and aromatic plants'}—plants with pleasant fragrances—{'Then which of your Lord's favours will you both deny?'}. Allah (Glory be to Him) also says, {'It is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth and sends down rain from the sky, causing fruits to grow as a provision for you'}. There are so many verses that focus on this in the Holy Quran.

Among the great blessings of Allah (Glory be to Him) upon humanity and one of the most important sources of livelihood, food, and necessary sustenance is fertile land. Its abundant and diverse produce, consisting of a wide variety of agricultural crops, is essential for people's lives.

Arab countries, including our country Yemen, have fertile land suitable for agriculture in most areas. However, Arab countries, including Yemen, have some of the lowest agricultural production rates in the world, although some Arab countries like Sudan have rivers and highly fertile land. In fact, it should ideally be distinguished globally in agricultural production, yet the Sudanese people suffer from extreme poverty. They continue to live in a state of conflicts, wars, internal problems, and a very terrible state of destitution.

Similarly, in other Arab countries, there is not a significant inclination to utilize this blessing. Although Allah has granted them fertile land for agriculture, they do not fully benefit from it as required.

Factors hindering agriculture: urban migration and external imports

Many people from rural areas, where agriculture can be practiced, migrate and crowd into cities in millions. As a result, a significant portion of the population becomes congested in cities, living in apartments and rented spaces where they cannot engage in farming or raise livestock or anything. This, in itself, is one of the factors that affect agriculture. Indeed, this (the migration from rural areas and the overcrowding in cities) is among the factors that hinder agriculture and neglect agricultural production.

People then rely on importing agricultural crops. In Yemen, for example, even garlic is imported from China, as well as ginger. The country imports all types of agricultural requirements and crops from distant countries, such as China and others. Legumes, such as broad beans, peas, and beans, are imported, some even from Australia and other distant countries. Thus, obtaining agricultural crops, which are part of people's food and livelihood requirements, is met by relying on imports from distant places, despite the fact that this leads to significant negative effects and high costs and has an impact on people's lives and livelihoods. It even contributes to unemployment. It hampers productive activities that provide income for their livelihoods and fulfill their life requirements, sustenance, and food needs.

In addition to the migration to cities, what has also contributed to this is the wrong policies of proxy regimes and governments over decades. Long periods pass, but no attention, whatsoever, is paid to encourage agriculture from official entities. There is no focus on agricultural production, but rather a reliance on an import-oriented policy for everything. This comes within the context of the connection and relationship between these regimes and governments with the enemies of the Ummah, who do not want any good for us and our peoples. Rather, they want us to remain mere consumer markets for their goods and not to become a productive, strong ummah that builds its reality based on self-sufficiency in securing its essential needs.

This has led to the current situation, which has reached catastrophic levels:

• Difficult living conditions for people, with an extreme spread of destitution beyond the natural levels of provision restriction, which is ordained for people and related to what is between them and Allah. It is much more than that; there is severe suffering that reaches the level of a disaster and poses a threat to food security. When people's food and essential sustenance are primarily imported from abroad, this constitutes a threat to their food security.
• Grain production has declined in our country, not to mention other Arab countries. In our country, there were certain periods when grain production, especially sorghum and other crops like millet, was abundant. However, it has significantly declined.
• Coffee production has also decreased in the country, leading to importing coffee from abroad, even coffee! This is a strange problem!
• Dependence on imports for all agricultural crops has become the norm.

The people have suffered greatly, even though our country is one of the best countries in terms of agriculture, with a diverse range of agricultural crops due to the diverse climate in the mountains, Tihama, and the eastern regions. This diversity contributes to the integration of agricultural production—there are some agricultural crops suitable for the eastern regions, others for the mountainous areas, and some for Tihama according to their types. Also, crops of good quality, even exceptional quality, can be produced if protected from people's negligence. However, the problem sometimes lies with people themselves, in their haste to harvest and market crops before they are ripe and suitable for consumption, and sometimes there are other reasons—if the negative practices are not involved.

This is an extremely important issue that requires continuous attention, continuous encouragement, continuous urging for people, and continuous efforts to address obstacles. This matter is essential for the people and, at the same time, provides solutions to many problems: It ensures people's food security and provides sources and means of lawful sustenance and livelihood. It is also important from a religious perspective because it enables us to be a free people, liberated from the control of our enemies and capable of fulfilling our important and sacred responsibilities: performing Jihad for the sake of Allah, commanding good and forbidding evil, achieving true independence at the cultural, intellectual, and political levels without subordination to the enemies and from a position that enables us secure our basic needs so that they do not become a means of pressure wielded against our people by our enemies. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention again to agriculture and animal wealth—we will come to this point—as well as taking care of the supportive and necessary factors, foremost among them being rural development.

Important solutions for agricultural development and addressing the economic situation

It is also important for official entities and social initiatives (popular and official efforts) to converge and collaborate in focusing on rural development to reduce migration to cities. That is because the primary issue lies in migration to cities and overcrowding there, which results in complete disruption of agriculture and livestock development.

As we mentioned before, one of the solutions in some rural areas is migration from one rural area to another, rather than migration from rural areas to cities. This applies to specific cases with their own conditions and reasons.

Rural development—through focusing on infrastructure in rural areas, water services, healthcare services, educational services, and providing necessary services for the people—is of great significance if there is cooperation. There have been successful experiences in certain regions that, at the very least, provide hope. Even though they may not have met the desired level, they still inspired hope, drew attention, and highlighted the potential for accomplishing a lot through official and popular cooperation and active social initiatives that receive official direction, support, and attention as required.

Second, it is important to pay attention to water management: One of Allah's blessings (Glory be to Him) is the abundant rainfall and precipitation received this season. There have been heavy rains in most parts of the country, and this is a great blessing for which we praise and thank Allah. In many seasons, Allah blessed us with abundant rainfall. However, how can we derive the desired benefits from this blessing? How can we effectively utilize and invest in it?

As we mentioned in many lectures and various occasions, a significant amount of rain water flows through valleys to the sea, and some of it reaches the desert. The level of benefiting from this blessing, which we must thank Allah for and consider the factors that sustain it, is limited. There is no enough attention given to barriers, pools, reservoirs, and dams, all of which can help us preserve this blessing to the best of our ability and benefit from it, as it is among the most essential necessities of life.

In some regions, the benefit is somewhat satisfactory: Some people at the very least secure drinking water for themselves and what they need for their homes and livestock. However, there is much more that people can do at all levels: at the level of pools and reservoirs, which are highly essential, especially in rural areas and even in cities where people could benefit from them if there was proper planning; at the level of barriers, which can be increased in number; and at the level of dams, which exist with various levels.

This is an important matter because among the fundamental requirements of agriculture, after having land, is water; people are in need of water.

Similarly, water channels (such as those in Tahama, Jaouf, and some areas in Marib, particularly in the desert-like regions, as well as other areas in the country) are crucial for better utilization of water, irrigation, and efficient distribution of water that flows through valleys. This is a very important aspect.

Important guidelines also for revitalizing agriculture

Among the factors that help revitalize agriculture, the agricultural sector, and agriculture production is private-sector investment in agriculture.

Many merchants go abroad and purchase various agricultural crops from overseas. Those crops might be directly brought before packaging (for example large quantities of wheat, legumes, garlic, spices, and many other crops), or might be imported as canned and manufactured products in great amounts.

Investing their money locally will result in great benefits for them, for their nation, and for the economic and living conditions of the people. It also holds importance at the level of food security, as we mentioned at the beginning of our speech.

The private sector needs official support and facilitations in order to prevent the official entities from being obstructive, as is the case with some entities and officials whose policies, routines, style, and approach to work pose obstacles. In addition, some laws need to be changed as they represent a real obstacle to supporting private sector investment in agricultural production, agriculture, and manufacturing food. This is essential to support agricultural production, agriculture, manufacturing food, and manufacturing and production of agricultural products.

It is also important to strive for the activation of both old and modern agricultural associations. There are numerous agricultural associations that require attention and correctness for their activities. Some associations have encountered failures, hindrances, specific problems, obstacles, or flaws that should be addressed in order to activate and operate them as required. This is crucial because one of the solutions that revitalizes agricultural activities requires cooperation and joint efforts. Associations can play a fundamental and significant role in this. However, some associations were established but then did not continue working due to certain obstacles or challenges. Some of these challenges may originate from those in charge of the associations, either due to lack of attention or lack of proper understanding. They need attention and care.

One of the very important aspects in agricultural work that can contribute to revitalizing agriculture—we spoke about it extensively—is the focus on cost reduction while improving quality. Typically, agricultural work in our country is costly. In other words, the methods, tools, and work practices are expensive, requiring significant financial investment; therefore, when the harvest comes, farmers calculate their fines and expenses and find them to be exorbitant costs. They realize that they cannot make a profit or even cover the expenses unless they raise the prices. Consequently, they market their products at high prices, resulting in weak demand. Citizens, with their difficult living conditions, seek to purchase cheaper products according to their circumstances and capabilities, which has an impact in reality.

Cost reduction in production can be achieved through various aspects. Some people face challenges in their methods and approaches, while others struggle with the means they rely on. The causes vary, and it is possible to analyze and address these problems by tackling the underlying reasons. This can lead to cost reduction and improved availability of abundant and better-quality production.

Furthermore, the aspect of quality is noteworthy, including the quality of the harvest in terms of its safety, care, harvesting methods, packaging, and marketing. This is achievable, just like what people do in other parts of the world, or do we believe that only non-believers can excel in these matters, while Muslims cannot produce agricultural crops correctly, ensure their proper marketing, raise a cow or chicken, or cultivate various crops?! This is achievable. People worldwide focus on these aspects, provide solutions, and concentrate on them, leading to significant and real differences in all aspects of their livelihoods and production levels.

Also, attention should be given to providing equipment. This is an area where the private sector invests. It should be encouraged to invest in it. This includes providing ploughs and even manufacturing some requirements within the country. This might also include purchasing, for example, harvesters, tools, capabilities, and technologies, making them accessible to people and using them to uplift the agricultural sector and improve production levels, whether in terms of abundance and quantity—producing enormous quantities—reducing costs and financial burdens in production or improving quality. All of this is possible and available.

Addressing the problem of marketing and distribution is an important issue in the reality of the country. Sometimes, agricultural produce is available in one province to the extent that prices become very low, causing losses to farmers, while the produce is scarce or available in limited quantities in another province, resulting in very high prices. There is a lack of distribution and management in the marketing process at the level of all provinces.

As for balancing imports and local production, efforts should be made to reduce the percentage of imports in favour of local production and locally produced crops, based on their quantity and market coverage. If local production covers, for example, thirty percent of the market, imports should be reduced by this percentage in favour of these local crops. This applies to what is produced, packaged, and manufactured, ensuring that local products remain present in the market, maintain their market share, and have opportunities for marketing and purchasing.

Balancing is a crucial matter to avoid the recurrence of issues like what happened with garlic production, where there was good garlic production in the country but large quantities continued to be imported from abroad, negatively impacting the local product. The same problem repeated itself in the story of raisins and some other agricultural crops. There should be strong management and monitoring of this issue to prevent it from affecting local production.

In terms of agricultural crops, the following should be given priority:

• Care should be given to the production of various types of grains, such as wheat, by producing them locally instead of relying on massive imports.
• The same applies to other grains like millet, sorghum of all types, and other grains.
• The same also applies to legumes. Our country has the potential to cultivate broad beans, beans, lentils, and peas, and these legumes can be produced locally and with excellent quality.

So attention should be directed towards investing in agricultural production, particularly in grains and legumes.

• Official bodies and relevant organizations that can play this role should also focus on investing in seed production as it is a fundamental requirement to produce high-quality seeds and provide seedlings. This is essential for agricultural work.
• Regarding fruits, there are various types that can be cultivated in the country and yield abundant harvests in a way that makes a change in people's livelihoods and secures what they need and import from other countries.

One of the fundamental requirements is to pay attention to agricultural guidance for farmers: This is a highly important matter. Some effort has been made in this area, but it is still limited and needs significant strengthening. The relationship between the relevant authorities and farmers should be strong, with continuous support through instructions and guidance. This is a very important matter. Farmers need guidance in everything, including understanding the land itself, its fertility, needs, and related ratios. They also need guidance regarding plants, pests, irrigation, and many other things. They do need guidance in these areas: lands, plants, crops, irrigation, fertility, climate, and preventive measures to combat pests and diseases, as many diseases in crops arise due to specific deficiencies or inadequate requirements. So this is a very important matter.

Similarly, agricultural education should be strengthened: It should receive more attention and be linked to practical and applied fields, even within the academic stage itself. Students studying agriculture at universities should have an experience with the practical and applied aspects of the field. This helps ensure that their education is accurate and beneficial. Additionally, incorporating pre-university subjects related to agriculture in education is a highly important matter.

Care should also be given to the production of fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides in a safe and positive manner:
These requirements, which are essential for agricultural work, can be produced within the country. People should not assume that they can only be produced abroad. Also, they should be produced in a way that ensures that they are safe to use, taking into account people's health and well-being. This is an important matter.

Attention should be paid to solar and alternative energy to solve the diesel problem: That is because the diesel issue poses a significant problem for farmers. However, as solar energy becomes more accessible in regions where it can be relied upon—some areas can rely on wind energy, and other regions may have different options. Thus, alternative energy sources alleviate the diesel problem and reduce dependence on diesel.

These are essential and highly important requirements. However, all of this requires serious and responsible action from relevant government entities. It is a crucial matter. They should provide support to the agricultural committee. It does need assistance from other government entities, which should earnestly and responsibly aid and support it, as well as from popular entities, which should engage, respond, act, and mobilize, because this is significant work. Undoubtedly, it can change the country's reality, the people's circumstances, and the overall societal conditions. It can move us from a challenging reality to a completely different one. This is an extremely important matter, and everyone must make effort.

What is beneficial and may inspire people to act more seriously is when everyone moves with a spirit of Jihad, a sense of responsibility, great interest, and realization of the importance of such a matter, as well as having a faith-based motive. That is because this has to do with our conflict with our enemies, who desire to make our living conditions and basic necessaries as a means to exert pressure against us and undermine our independence and to turn extreme poverty and the burden of living conditions into a tool to buy people and lead them towards destruction.

When one observes what has happened in the occupied regions and governorates, What have the enemies done? Have they taken care of agriculture, production, or the economy? Or was their sole concern to enlist fighters? If you want to recruit with them, you are welcome and will be given money too. However, if you want anything else, no! There has never been any interest in the developmental aspects from their side.

The official entities—instead of being obstructive as is the case with some of them, which are still obstructive and have not yet reached the normal level in dealing with agriculture—how big is the difference between their being supportive, concerned, and serious and their current reality in which they hinder agricultural work. Some of them still withhold agricultural equipment, impede its delivery to farmers, and engage in many actions that obstruct and hinder framers.

Challenges and obstacles

There are problematic issues affecting people in the agricultural field, such as the problem of harmful pesticides:
As mentioned before, people can produce pesticides, insecticides, and other necessary agricultural inputs, but they must do so in a proper manner. Much of what is imported is lethal and extremely harmful to people's health. Therefore, we emphasize the following points:

• Those merchants who import these substances bear a significant sin. When what they import proves to be lethal to people, spreading cancer, viral hepatitis, and deadly diseases, they are considered killers, and in the sight of Allah, they are criminals. Their accountability is severe, and it is the duty of official authorities to confront their criminal activities because they engage in criminal acts in every sense of the word.
• Farmers, on their part, should fear Allah. When they use these pesticides and substances that have become humanicides rather than insecticides, solely for the sake of financial gain and out of greed, they bear a great sin and burden due to the significant harm they cause to people and society. This is an extremely serious issue.

One of the issues hindering agricultural production is the weak popular demand, at times, for local products:
There are various reasons for this:

• Sometimes, local products do not receive sufficient promotion, and most people are not aware of them.
• Sometimes, there are weaknesses in marketing.
• Sometimes, issues arise regarding product quality.
• Sometimes, problems arise in packaging and the production process itself.

It is possible to address all aspects of these problems. These are some points related to the agricultural sector, which is vital and the backbone of the national economy. It has the potential to change people's reality, but it requires serious action and the attention of everyone.

The agricultural committee visits the provinces, but the governors, officials in local authorities, community leaders at the popular level, and educators do not respond. So the committee continues to work alone with limited activity and limited impact. How can the country achieve development in this manner? This requires serious action from everyone and significant attention while having a sense of responsibility and a spirit of Jihad.

Among the great foundational blessings: animal wealth.

One of the foundational blessings available to people, which they can utilize and benefit from and is a very important source of sustenance—as Allah is the Bestower of all blessings, whether those that are foundational or those blessings derived from them—is the blessing of animal wealth, such as cattle including camels, cows, sheep, goats, and lambs; bees and honey production; fish; and chickens and eggs. These are among the foundational blessings, from which many other blessings, provisions, and abundant goodness branch out.

Allah (Glory be to Him) says in the Holy Quran, {'And He created cattle for you'}—He is the Creator, the Bestower, the Generous. {'And He created cattle for you. In them are warmth and benefits for you, and of them you eat'}. They are a source of food for humans and provide various other abundant benefits for people: Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'And there is certainly a lesson for you in cattle: We give you to drink of what is in their bellies, from between digested food and blood: pure milk, pleasant to drink'}. He also says, {'And there is certainly a lesson for you in cattle, from whose bellies We give you to drink, and in them are many other benefits for you, and from them you may eat'}. It is a blessing that He created, presented, prepared for use, made available, and made accessible for people. However, only a few people show interest in it to benefit from it. It is both nourishment and wealth, with multiple benefits for various aspects of life. However, the handling of this blessing is still haphazard, primitive, limited, and scarce. There is a lack of organized work and organized activity towards this blessing, and there has been a significant decline in interest. With the migration of people to cities, even in rural areas, many no longer possess a cow or even a chicken.

Furthermore, there has been a lack of attention to the issue of animal wealth based on organized policies and utilizing modern methods that help benefit from this blessing in a better way. As we mentioned earlier, this aspect has been greatly neglected, and people have also, due to carelessness and lack of interest in this blessing, engaged in behaviours that add to what is already taking place.

One of the strangest things is their focus on slaughtering female and young animals. This is a peculiar matter, far from wisdom, awareness, and the consideration of people's interests in dealing with this blessing. In urban areas, a lot of restaurants rely on providing their customers, whether they request lamb or goat meat, with young animals. It is well known in nutrition that they are not nutritionally adequate as desired. The nutritional elements and value of such meat are still limited and deficient.

In Islamic legislation, which teaches us prudence and understanding, we notice that it is required that sacrificial animals such as sheep should be at least a year old. This guidance teaches us how they should be in the desired form and when they are considered suitable for consumption.

Anyway, even if this presumably is not the case regarding restaurants or meat consumption in slaughterhouses and restaurants, it is expected that people would have some rationality and not focus on young animals or primarily on females. Because females are producers, the focus on them reflects a lack of wisdom and awareness and an abundance of ignorance that Arabs suffer from. They act contrary to their own interests in a manner that is not wise or correct. It's a strange matter, focusing on the wrong things to an astonishing extent. Considering meat quality, taste, nutritional value, and benefits, young animals should not be favoured , nor should one focus on slaughtering females.

Regarding hides, despite their abundance, how many cows and sheep are slaughtered each day? Where do their hides go? They are neglected, wasted, and not utilized. Merchants import and purchase from abroad when it comes to producing warmth. {'In them are warmth and benefits,'} but there is no utilization of hides for that purpose or any other purposes. There is randomness in this aspect, a lack of concern, and a failure to utilize them as required.

As for milk and its derivatives, importation from abroad has reached a highly significant extent. Now, milk and its derivatives receive attention in a very limited way; however, more attention is required in this aspect.

There is a problem faced by those who have livestock, even in limited numbers, and that is the severe shortage in veterinary care. Veterinary services need strengthening and attention, as well as proactive measures for prevention, to prevent many diseases beforehand.

These are some of the aspects related to this very important and available blessing that people can invest in and can also be a source of livelihood and lawful sustenance for them.

Important treasures: bees and fish are among the best sources of sustenance.

To save time, let's move on to the topic of bees: Bees are a great blessing, and honey production is one of the best sources of sustenance that are profitable but also have significant positive aspects and are important and excellent wealth.

One of the biggest factors that has affected honey production in our country is adulteration, especially when many beekeepers rely on sugar in honey production. They feed their bees sugar and primarily depend on it, resulting in the production of sugar honey. This is inconsistent with Allah's saying, {'Then, feed from all fruits.'} He (Glory be to Him) says in the Holy Quran, {'And your Lord inspired the bees: "Make homes in the mountains, the trees, and in what people construct. Then, feed from all fruits and follow the ways your Lord has made easy for you." From their bellies comes forth liquid of varying colours, in which there is healing for people'}.

Honey production is a huge wealth for beekeepers and, at the same time, a beneficial commodity for society. It holds significant importance for the health of the community. If honey is available and reaches the tables of the community, it would have a substantial impact on improving community health and preventing diseases. This is undeniable and unquestionable. However, this requires care, attention, and agricultural guidance because many people who buy bees do not know how to work with them. Bees require care based on proper knowledge and understanding.

We also need protected areas because one of the factors that destroy bees is the use of pesticides and insecticides by farmers on their farms. Some beekeepers, if they are close to farms, lose all their bees due to this. So we need protected areas maintained by the state that prohibits the use of pesticides, where trees and plants are available and utilized for honey production. This requires official care, guidance, incentives, and protected areas. Additionally, there is a need to combat cheating because this has tarnished the reputation of this product, which, Yemeni honey, was one of the country's finest products. However, cheating has tarnished it to a great extent. It also requires attention to production, including packaging, promotion, and marketing, instead of primarily relying on imported honey.

There is another blessing that is available to some extent and now faces targeting and harassment. This blessing is the sea. The sea is a vast treasure. Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'And He is the One Who has subjected the sea, so from it you may eat tender seafood and extract ornaments to wear. And you see the ships ploughing their way through it, so you may seek His bounty and give thanks '}. There is great importance in developing fish production, caring for fishermen, solving their problems, and supporting them. They suffer from persecution, war, and significant harm from enemies on one side and a lack of attention and neglect from official authorities on the other side. It is possible to provide fish, package them, enhance their production, and market them in a better way. This benefits people in their nutrition and health and also provides one of the most important means of lawful earnings and sustenance.

Another thing to mention is investment in poultry. Investment in poultry and egg production has decreased. This represents a source of food and wealth and is available, and there is high demand for this kind of production. In addition, it is essential for people's nutrition, yet its production has greatly declined due to the destruction of many poultry farms by the aggression.

These blessings are big and important blessings, and investing in them is crucial, as they are essential in life. However, paying attention to them should also be driven by the pursuit of great matters such as Jihad and liberation and within what is lawful. This would have solved many of those problems and concerns people have, including those issues that are byproducts of such problems and concerns.

As we mentioned at the beginning, one should not allow livelihood concerns to overpower him and cause him to deviate from the path of righteousness, leading him to lose the Hereafter—losing his future in the Hereafter for the sake of a very limited and temporary life!

Paying Zakat is also important, and we emphasize this because this has to do with Taqwa and is one of the means of blessings, goodness, sustenance, and abundance. As Eid Al-Fitr approaches, it is important to give Zakat Al-Fitr to help the poor. This should be accompanied with constantly expressing gratitude to Allah (the Almighty) for His countless and immeasurable blessings. Allah (the Almighty) says, {'If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more'}. Gratitude includes maintaining righteousness, working with integrity, having Taqwa, and keeping hope and trust in Allah's grace and mercy ingrained in one's consciousness as a principle he holds fast to. This is an essential matter as people's circumstances change throughout their life journey. It is Allah Who says, {'After hardship, Allah will bring about ease'}.

We ask Allah (Glory be to Him) to grant us success in seeking what pleases Him. O Allah (Glory be to You), have mercy on our virtuous martyrs, heal the wounded among us, set free our captives, and grant us victory, for You are All-Hearing!

O Allah, accept our fasting, nights of worship, and good deeds. You are All-Hearing!

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.