4.27. UNLAWFUL TRADE

                         


 
God says

… he who deceives shall be faced with his deceit on the Day of Resurrection, when every human being will be paid in full for whatever he has done, and none shall be wronged. -- Q.3:161

O you who have attained to faith! Do not devour one another’s possessions wrongfully – not even by way of trade based on mutual agreement  … Q.4:29

You are obsessed by greed more and more until you go down to your graves.* -- Q.102:1,2
  * The Arabic term “takasur” bears the connotation of “greedily striving for an increase,” i.e., in benefits, be they tangible or intangible, real or illusory.  In the context it denotes man’s obsessive striving for more and more comfort, more and more materials goods, greater power over his fellowmen, or over nature, and unceasing technological progress.  A passionate pursuit of such endeavors to the exclusion of everything else, bars man from all spiritual insights, and hence from the acceptance of any restrictions and inhibition based on purely ‘moral’ values -- with the result that not only individuals but whole societies gradually lose all inner stability and, thus, all chance of happiness.  


Prophet said

Ali reported that the Messenger of God forbade purchase from a needy person (talking advantage of his need)…  Abu Daud.

“Whoever sells a defective thing without disclosing the defect continues to be in the wrath of God.” – H: Ibn.Majah. N: Waselah-b-Asqa’a.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of God passed by a heap of corn.  He thrusted his hands into it and his hands touched the moisture.  He asked, “O owner of this corn, what is this?”.  The owner replied: the rain fell on it, O holy Prophet. “(why) have you not turned-over the corn like this so that people could see it,” said the Messenger of God, “Whoever deceives is not of me.”-- H: Muslim.
“Nobody shall bargain over the bargain of his brother Muslim”* --  H: Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.
* ‘Nobody’ refers to Muslim as well as non-Muslim, coming forward, offering higher price after an agreement of sale and purchase has been reached with someone else.

4.26. TRADE AND COMMERCE (concluded)

God says

O you who have attained to faith! When the call to prayer is sounded on the day of congregation [i.e., Friday], hasten to remembrance of God, and leave all worldly commerce: this is for your own good, if you but knew it. And when the prayer (of Friday congregation) 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. 62:9,10

*In topic 24, you have noted that the Prophet said: “To search after lawful earning is compulsory after obligatory injunctions.” It is quoted by Baihaqi and narrated by Abdullah-b-Masud.

God says in verse 4: 34: “Men shall take full care of women with the bounties that God has bestowed more abundantly on the former than the latter, and with what they may spend out of their possession.” Man should never forget his responsibility when the wife too has to earn.

 
Prophet said

“May God be kind to the man of gentle dealings when he sells, when he purchases and when he gives decision” -- H: Bukhari. N: Jabir.

“Indeed the trader, (who is a believer and) who is honest and trustworthy both in word and in deed, will arise on the Resurrection Day with the prophets of God, with  the pious and the martyrs” -- fazail-e-tijarat by Shaikul Hadees Maulana Mohd. Zakariya.

“…if they (buyers and sellers) speak the truth  and (the seller) discloses the defect, they are blessed in their transaction." 
-- H: Bukhari and Muslim. Narrator: Hakeem bin Hizam.

4.26. TRADE AND COMMERCE (to be continued)

God says

… God has made buying and selling lawful and usury unlawful. … Q.2:275

… And have witnesses whenever you trade with one another, but neither scribe nor witnesses must suffer harm;* for if you do [them harm], behold, it will be sinful conduct on your part. And remain conscious of God, since it is God who teaches you [herewith]. And God has full knowledge of everything. – Q.2:282 (end of verse)                                    

 [There are] people whom neither commerce nor striving after gain can divert from the remembrance of God nor from constancy in prayer, and from charity: [people] who are filled with fear [at the thought of the Day on which all hearts and eyes will be convulsed, [and who only hope] that God may reward them in accordance with the best they ever did, and give them, out of His bounty more [than they deserve]: for God grants sustenance unto  whom He wills beyond all reckoning. -- Q.24:37


Prophet said

 “Take to trade because there are nine parts in it out of ten parts of sustenance” -- Ghazali’s “Ihya”.

“….every honest transaction (is purest)” – H: Ahmad. N: Rafe-b-khudaiji.

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.