4.25. UNLAWFUL EARNING

God says

…And devour not one another’s possessions wrongfully, nor use it as bait for the judges with a view to devouring sinfully, and knowingly, anything that by right belongs to others. -- Q.2:188

Hence do not barter away your bond with God for a trifling gain! 
Verily, that which is with God is by far the best for you, if you knew it: all that is with you is bound to come to an end, whereas that which is with God is everlasting.
And most certainly We shall grant unto those who are patient in adversity in accordance with the best they ever did. -- Q.16:95,96

Woe unto those, who give short measure: those who, when they are to receive their due from [other] people, demand that it be given in full, but when they have to measure or weigh whatever owe to others, give less than what is due!* Do they not know that they are bound to be raised from the dead [and called to account] on an awesome Day – the Day when all when all men shall stand before the Sustainer of all the worlds   -- Q.83:1-6
*This passage (verses 1-3) does not, of course, refer only to commercial dealings but touches upon every aspect of social relations, both practical and moral, applying to even individual’s rights and obligations no less than to his physical possessions.

….and you devour the inheritance [of others] with devouring greed, -- Q.89:19


Prophet said

“Charity from unlawful property is not accepted and expenditure from it is not blessed…”  H: Ahmed and Sharah Sunnat. N: Abdullah bin Masud.

“A man extending his hand towards heaven said: O Lord! O Lord!, while his food was unlawful, his drinks unlawful, his dress unlawful, and he was nourished on unlawful things. (Hence) how can he be responded for that (supplication of his) ?” -- H: Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.
Abdullah bin Amr reported that the messenger of God cursed the bribe-taker and the giver -- H: Abu Daud and ibn Majah.
Jabir reported that the Messenger of God cursed the devourer of usury: its payer, its scribe, and its two witnesses; and said that they are equal (in sin)* -- Muslim.
*One who, in any way, assists a doer of good gets same reward as the latter without latter’s reward being diminished. Same principle is true about punishment for one who joins in an act that is evil.
Best to remember Prophet’s Tradition for guidance, “There is no wisdom like effort, no piety like self denial, and no goodness like self conduct,” narrated by Abu Zarr and quoted by  Baihaqi.
 
“A time will come when man will not care from where he takes: from lawful things or from unlawful ones” — H: Bukhari. N: Nu’man-b-Bashir.

4.24. EARNINGS

God says

Yes, indeed, [O men,]  We have given you a [bountiful]  place on earth, and appointed thereon means of livelihood for you: [yet] how seldom are you grateful! -- Q.7:10 

And when the [Friday] prayer is ended, disperse freely on earth* and seek to obtain [something] of God’s bounty; but remember God often**, so that you might attain to a happy state. -- Q.62:10
*I.e., “you may devote yourself to worldly pursuits”.
** One who remembers God will avoid what is forbidden, in this case unlawful earnings for instance.


Prophet said

“Lawful (halaal) things are manifest and unlawful are also manifest, and between the two are doubtful things which many do not realize.  Whoever guards against the doubtful things, makes his religion and honor pure.” -- H: Bukhari and Muslim.  N: Nu’man-b-bashir.

“No one will be truly God-conscious until he leaves aside that in which there is fear (of being unlawful) in favour of that in which there is no possibility of being unlawful.” --  H: Tirmizi and Ibn Majah. N: Atiyya Sa’di.

“To search after lawful earning is compulsory after obligatory injunctions” – H: Baihaqi. N: Abdullah-b-Masud.

4.23. FEEDING THE NEEDY

 

God says

….and [truly virtuous are they] who give food -- however great be their own want of it* -- unto the needy, and the orphans, and the captive** [saying, in their hearts]: we feed you for the sake of God alone: we desire no recompense from you, nor thanks: behold, we stand in awe of our Lord’s judgment*** on the distressful fateful Day! Q.76: 8-10
*Or, as in 2:177, “however much they themselves may cherish [i.e., “need”] it; cf. also 90: 14-16. It is to be noted that in this context the concept of “giving food” comprises every kind of help and care, both material and moral.
** The term asir denotes anyone who is “captive” either literally (e.g. a prisoner) or figuratively, i.e., a captive of circumstances which render him helpless; thus, the Prophet said, “Thy debtor is thy captive; be, therefore, truly kind to thy captive” (Zamakhshri, Razi, so on so forth). The injunction of kindness towards all who are in need of help – and therefore “captive” in one sense or another – applies to believers and non believers alike (Tabari, Zamakhshri), and apparently also to animals dependant on man.   

 

Prophet said

“Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and free the captive.” - H: Bukhari. N: Abu Musa

“The best charity is to satisfy a hungry belly.” -- H: Baihaqi. N: Anas.

A man complained about his hard-heartedness to the Prophet.  He advised (the cure): “(Affectionately) pass thy hand over orphans’ head and give food to the poor’ – H: Ahmed. N: Abu Hurairah.

4.22. INTOXICANTS

God says

O you who have attained the faith! Intoxicants,* and games of chance, and idolatrous practices, and the divining of the future are but a loathsome evil of Satan’s doing: shun it, then, so that you might attain a happy state.* -- Q.5:90
* The prohibition of intoxicants laid down here comprises not only alcohol drinks but also drugs and things which intoxicate.
As for intoxicating drugs, referring last lines of 5:3, are permissible when circumstances beyond a person’s control force him to do what is against Islamic Law, because the illness makes their use imperative and unavoidable.
(Adapted from Asad’s note on verse 5:3)

 

Prophet said

Tariq-b-Suwaid asked the prophet about wine.  He prohibited it. Tariq said: I prepare it for medicine.  The Prophet replied, “it is not a medicine, but a disease” - H: Muslim. N: Waelil Hazrami.
Obviously, it was not a situation which makes intoxicants permissible. See the note of the verse above.

“Verily, every drink that intoxicates is unlawful.” -- H: Bukhari. N: Bibi Ayesha.

“What intoxicates in greater quantity is also unlawful in small quantity”-- H: Ibn Majah, Tirmizi, Abu Daud. N:Jabir.
Dailamah-al-Humairi reported that he said: O Messenger of God!  We live in a cold land where we have to do hard work.  We prepare drink from wheat which gives us strength and warmth.  The Prophet asked, “Does it intoxicate?” Yes, I said.  He said “give it up” I said: verily people can not give it up.  He said, “if they do not, fight with them.” -- H: Abu Daud.