Episode 28: Hadeeths That are Related to Trade Transactions (3)

In the previous two episodes and four important points, we have discussed what is related to some introductions of the commercial basic principles of buying and selling. Amongst what we have stated is that Islam considers all forms of wealth belong to Allaah The Almighty and that people are made successors only regarding it and thus they have to dispose them according to such strong basic principle. We also come to know that Islam has encouraged trading, selling and buying and increasing money; however, with the lawful and prescribed way only. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {…But Allaah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest…} [Quran 2: 275].

Amongst the other matters that we become know is that the Lawgiver does not enjoin anything except that which is good and in people’s best interests and does not forbid anything of transaction except to protect them from its harm and evil. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means) speaking about his Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him: {…who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil… } [Quran 7: 157].

Also, we has leant that the basic principle with regard to all transactions and different forms of trade is that all things are lawful. Thus, nothing can be made unlawful or prohibited unless there is proven Islamic evidence that they are unlawful and prevents it.

In this episode, we will continue discussing what is related to the guidelines of economical and commercial business in the following points.

Fifthly, amongst the guidelines that control such business is sound and good intention. That is because many actions and words in the Islam are based on intention. Therefore, the basic principle that reads: Matters are to be considered in the light of their objectives is one of the greater five basic principles in the Islamic Sharee‘h (i.e. divine laws). This basic principle is based on the Book of Allaah The Almighty and honorable Sunnah of His Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And they were not commanded except to worship Allaah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give Zakaah. And that is the correct religion.} [Quran 98: 5].

Moreover, it was narrated that ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “I heard the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, saying, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari and others].

Trade and business both need the good and sound intention. Thus, Muslim individual should seek with his business, whether it is buying or selling, renting, hiring, loaning, partnership or the like of other different forms of transactions, to get lawful provision so that he may not beg people to give him money and spend on himself and his dependents and to benefit his fellow Muslims.

Also, one should have the good intention regarding money to keep himself and those whom he is responsible for sufficient, to be strong enough to obey and worship Allaah The Almighty and seek His pleasure, to fortify himself from doing prohibitions and disliked matters, avoiding all what may enrage Allaah The Almighty. One should have the good intention of spending for the Sake of Allaah The Almighty and different forms of goodness. 

In this good and sound intention, seeking provision, trading, and business will turn to be acts of worship that bring one nearer to Allaah The Almighty, whether one is in his shop, market, selling, buying or the like.

That is because Allaah The Almighty give great rewards for such good and sound intention. Actually, the reward of deeds depends upon the intentions. Muslim scholars have also stated that with good intentions normal acts and habits will become acts of worship. One of our righteous predecessors said: “Verily I like to make an intention for everything I do even if it is eating and drinking.” Another one of them said: “I have seen that all forms of goodness are really combined in good and sound intention.”

Accordingly, Muslim individual has to have good and sound intention while he is doing business such as buying, selling and the like.

Sixthly, amongst the guidelines that the one who is dealing in commercial transactions has to abide by is that he has to be always aware that Allaah is watching. This means that Muslim individual has to have a certain belief within himself that Allaah The Almighty is watching him in all of his acts, what he does and what he does not, knows his secret and what he makes public, every deed he does, every business he conducts, every deal he concludes, and every promise or covenant he makes. Allaah The Almighty is watching all of such things and will hold one accountable for every minor or major thing and every small or great matter.

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Have you not considered that Allaah knows what is in the heavens and what is on the earth? There is in no private conversation three but that He is the fourth of them, nor are there five but that He is the sixth of them - and no less than that and no more except that He is with them [in knowledge] wherever they are. Then He will inform them of what they did, on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed Allaah is, of all things, Knowing.} [Quran 58: 7].

He, Exalted be He, also Says (what means): {…Indeed Allaah is ever, over you, an Observer.} [Quran 4: 1].

He, Exalted be He, also Says (what means): {…And ever is Allaah, over all things, an Observer.} [Quran 33: 52].

He, Exalted be He, also Says (what means): { So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it.} [Quran 99: 7-8].

There is absolutely no doubt that if one has such feeling in all of his conditions, he will be vigilant during his different transactions and thus he will not deviate nor budge even an inch from the religion of Allaah The Almighty.

Muslim individual should foster this feeling i.e. the feeling that Allaah The Almighty is watching all of his actions, manners and deeds in the whole of his life, whether in buying or selling, loaning, gifting, renting, hiring and the like, or his transactions, manners, behavior whether with himself or with people around him, whether within his house or outside it. If one abides by this great principle, he will be saved and happy with his end and results in this life and life to come.

We ask Allaah, Exalted be He, to show us the truth as truth and enable us to follow it, and to show us falsehood as falsehood and enable us to avoid it. Verily, He is All-Hearing and Ever Responsive.

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