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.
