In the Name of Allâh, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful
COMMERCIAL MORALITY
The Noble Qur'ân states:
"When the (Friday) prayer is complete, disperse through the land and seek the
Bounty of Allâh Ta'âla (through trade or lawful activity)."
The quest for sustenance is regarded as "seeking the bounty of Allâh", and is
thus hued with a profoundly religious character. Rasûlullah Sallallâhu alayhi
wa sallam has said: "The quest of halâl earning is a duty after a duty" which
implies that seeking halâl sustenance is a religious obligation second in
importance to religious observances like prayer, fasting, etc. Economic
activity in the life of a Muslim is therefore regulated by divine principles,
principles that are premised on commercial morality. Commercial morality is
intrinsically bound to religion and is as important to faith, as wudhu is to
salât. The Qur'ân describes upright merchants in the following words: "Men whom
neither business nor sale can divert them from the remembrance of Allâh, nor
from regularity m salât or from giving zakât."" True believers are not recluses
or mystics, they are men of action distinguished by their moral fibre. They
steer clear from unbecoming
business ethics or ill-gotten gain.
Commercial Morality comprises o four fundamental ethics:
Legal activity
Justice
Kindness
Fear of Allâh
LEGAL ACTIVITY
Trade by definition entails dealing with people; it forges mutual association
between buyer and seller. This association must be sustained by:
Mutual Consent:
The Noble Qur'ân states: "O you who believe, do not at up each other's property
by wrong means except by way of trade based on mutual consent."
Unimposing Salesmanship:
Rasûlullah Sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam has said: "Beware of excessive oaths in
trade, it (may help) to secure a deal but will subsequently wipe out blessings."
Compassion:
Rasûlullah Sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam has said: "May Allâh show compassion to
a man who is lenient when he sells, buys or demands payment." (Bukhari)
Legal Commodity:
A Muslim may only sell items that he himself is allowed to use or consume. Umar
Radhiallâhu anhu was once informed that a certain person was selling alcohol.
Umar Radhiallâhu anhu) said:
"May Allâh curse him! Does he not know that Allâh's apostle said: "May Allâh
curse the Jews. Allâh had prohibited them to consume fat of animals, yet they
melted it and sold it." (Bukhari).
The Jews sold a commodity that they were not permitted to consume and were
therefore liable for the curse of Allâh.
JUSTICE
Hoarding:
Sayyidina Ali Radhiallâhu anhu said: "When a man hoards food stuff (refuses to
sell) even for a day, in order to gain from a price hike, his heart becomes
hard."
Fraud:
Uqba bin Amir Radhiallâhu anhu says: "It is illegal for a person to knowingly
sell defective (flawed) merchandise, without informing him (the buyer of the
defect).
Rasûlullah Sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam said: "He who regards the unlawful as
lawful, does not believe in the Qur'ân. Deceit in buying and selling is
unlawful."
Monopoly:
Rasûlullah Sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam says: "Whoever monopolises is a sinner."
Usury:
"Allâh will deprive usury of all blessings but will give increase for deeds of
charity."
Regulated Prices:
Anâs Radhiallâhu anhu says: "Once they (the companions) asked Rasûlullah
Sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam to fix prices. He replied: "Allâh alone is the
regulator of prices, He curtails or provides amply..."
KINDNESS
Creditor:
Nabî Sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam said: "May Allâh show mercy to a person who is
considerate when he sells, buys or demands payment."
He further said: "There was a trader who dealt in credit. Whenever his debtor
was in straitened circumstances, he would say to his employees: "Pardon him,
perhaps Allâh will pardon us". (When he died) Allâh forgave him"
Debtor:
"He is best among you who pays his debt in a good manner and clears it before
its fixed…"
Employer:
Rasûlullah Sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam said: "Pay the labourer his wages before
his sweat dries."
Employee:
"O You who believe! Fulfill your contractual obligations."
Management:
Rasûlullah Sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam said:
"O Abu Zarr! (Radhiallâhu anhu) There is no wisdom like sound management, no
piety like self denial and no virtue like good conduct."
Fear of Allâh:
Rasûlullah Sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam said: "Fear Allâh wherever you are."
The, fear of Allâh Ta'âla is not confined to prayer alone neither can Islâm be
relegated to superficial obedience. Islâm has to be expressed in, every sphere
of human activity. Worship, trade and social interaction are constituent parts
of religion. If anyone part is removed from the equation, we have a lopsided
and unbalanced religious ethic.
Providence:
Rasûlullah Sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam said:
"If you trust in Allâh with due reliance, he would sustain you as He sustains
the birds. They get up hungry in the morning and return with a full belly in
the evening."
A Muslim therefore earns his bread with the believe that:
The proportion of sustenance is determined by Allâh.
It is an act of worship to trade in order to avoid depending on others.
Greed leads to perpetual poverty.
Lawful earnings draw the blessing of Allâh, even though it may seem meagre.
Kindness is more virtuous then obsession with wealth.
Commit yourself to equity, justice and compassion.
May He imbue in us the conduct of an Allâh conscious trader and save us from
the temptation of indulging in harâm.
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