Trade and commerce have always been a part of Islam. From pre-Islamic days, the Holy City of Mecca has been the center of commercial activities. It was indeed the annual trading center of Mecca that provided Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) the forum for preaching Islam.
The early Muslims were not only engaged in trade but they went to distant lands in connection with business. Islam in fact reached East and West Africa, East Asia through the business people.
Islam encourages work in general, and trade and commerce in particular, Prophet Mohammad(pbuh) was himself engaged in this profession before he became a prophet. He was a successful businessman. Known for integrity, he bore the title, “The Trustworthy”,
The Quran states: “God has made business lawful for you” . In addition, the Qur’an includes rules not only for manners and hygiene, marriage and divorce, but it also lays down detailed rules for commerce and politics, interest and debts, contracts and wills, and industry and finance. Islam has permitted and in fact encouraged business. Islam lays out the basic principles of our economic behavior as consumers, producers and owners of wealth.
The Islamic principle in business is based on individual enterprise and correspondingly individual’s reward. It is basically based on benefiting the humanity while maintaining God’s orders.
In business relationships Islam strictly forbids any discrimination between people based on their religion, sex, or gender.
There is no basic conflict between good business practice and profit making in Islam. Islam looks at profit as secondary way to measure efficiency.
These are few Hadith and quotes from the
Qurãn that should be used as guidelines when
embarking on a business venture. This will assist
in governing the Islamic code of ethics with relation
to ones daily and business conduct. We,
Muslim brothers and sisters have a responsibility
to behave Islamicly in our business dealings
as ALLAH(SWT) himself is a witness to our
transactions.
LOVE ALLAH MORE
THAN YOUR TRADE
We should be able to sacrifice
everything we have. Allah warns in
the Qurãn, “If it be that your fathers,
your sons, your brothers, your mates, or
your kindred; the wealth that you have gained;
the commerce in which you fear a decline; or the
dwellings in which you delight - are dearer to
you than Allah, or His Messenger, or the
striving in His cause -then wait until Allah
brings about His Decision: and
Allah guides not the rebellious.”
[Al Qurãn 9:24] |
HONESTY AND
TRUTHFULNESS
Honesty and Truthfulness is
important for Muslim business as
there is a need to make a profit, a
need to enhance the products or service
during a ales presentation. Hence the
Prophet (peace be upon him) said:” The
merchants will be raised on the Day of
Resurrection as evil-doers, except
those who fear Allah, are honest
and speak the truth” [Tirmidhi,
Ibn Majah, Darimi] |
GOODWILL
AND HUMBLENESS
“O you who believe!
Eat not up your property
among yourselves in vanities:
but let there be amongst you traffic
and trade by mutual good-will:
nor kill (or destroy) yourselves:
for verily Allah has been
to you Most Merciful.”
[Al Qurãn 4:29] |
DEAL
HONOURABLY
ALLAH emphasizes
this point in the Qurãn.
“Deal not unjustly, and you
shall not be dealt with
unjustly. [Al Qurãn
2:279] |
TRUST
“If you guarantee
me six things on your
part I shall guarantee you
Paradise. Speak the truth when
you talk, keep a promise when you
make it, when you are trusted with
something fulfill your trust, avoid
sexual immorality, lower your
guise, and restrain your hands
from injustice.” [Ubadah
Ibn al Samit, Ahmad,
Bayhaqi] |
BRIBERY
The practice of
bribery is strictly forbidden
in Islam. The Apostle
of Allah (peace be upon
him) cursed the one who bribes
and the one who takes bribes.
[Abd Allah ibn Amr ibn
Al As, Abu Dawud,
Hadith no 3573] |
| FRAUD
Islam strongly condemns
all such practices in business
transactions (Al-Ghashsh). The
Messenger(pbuh) of Allah has commanded
the believers not to indulge in
cheating and fraudulent practices in business
transactions “to those that deal in fraud, those
who when they have to receive by measure,
from men exact full measure. But when they
have to give by measure or weight to
men, give less than due. Do they not
think that they will be called to
account?” [Al Qurãn 83:1-4] |
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