ISLAMIC NORMS OF TRADE

Dr. S. M. Moin Qureshi      

In the words of a Western scholar (Henry David Thoreau), “Most are engaged in business greater part of their lives, because the soul abhors a vacuum and they have not discovered any continuous employment for man’s nobler faculties.” Islam does not recognise any such “vacuum of soul.”

The basic purpose of Islam is to show the best straight path (Siraat) by which, different faculties of a man may be brought to perfection and his soul may realise its true nature. The chief means to achieve this noblest end is worship unto Allah, the Master and the Creator. The Almighty Allah ordains, “I have not created the jinns and humans but to worship Me”(Az Zaariyaat:56). All other human acts (including trade and commerce) are subservient and auxiliary to the attainment of this goal. And because various parts of an object constitute its whole, therefore, commercial activities also become acts of worship as the Quraan points out those man who are not distracted from remembering Allah, if engaged in trade and commerce or by buying and selling .

Before Islam, business was considered a detestable profession. Traders, on account of their avarice and unfair business techniques, were taken as fleeces in society. Hence Mercury, the Roman god of trade, commerce, gain and luck was also the god of “theft” (Chambers English Dictionary - 7th edition).

Even some modern thinkers hold businessmen in contempt. Albert Camus, for instance, argued, “I have always thought it would be easier to redeem a man steeped in vice and crime than a greedy, narrow-minded, pitiless merchant.”

Islam, on the other hand, edified this profession to the extent that according to a famous Tradition of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) “Trustworthy merchants will be raised with the prophets, martyrs and the truthful on the Resurrection Day.” The Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) adopted trade as a profession before the announcement of the Prophethood. Before his marriage with Hadhrat Khadijah, he undertook business tours on her behalf to Syria, Jerusalem, Yemen and other places.

The Makkans used to embark on journeys northward to Syria and southward to Yemen in the summer and winter seasons respectively to carry out their trade. The Quraan refers to these (business) journeys in a very graceful tone:

“In dealing with the Quraish for their preparations to travel in winter and in summer; - let them worship the Lord of this Home who feeds them against famine and secures them from fear “ (Al Quraish:1-4)

The message in the above verses indicates that Allah, the Most Exalted, is the only and real source of our security and commercial prosperity. When the believers, on being persecuted by the Quraish of Makkah migrated to Madinah, the Holy Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) they took up trade as a source of livelihood. Those of his companions who gained prominence in trade were Hadhrat Abdul Rahman bin ‘Auf, Hadhrat Abu Bakr and Hadhrat Usman.

According to Islam, Allah sends provisions for human beings and all other creatures in this world The Quraan declares, “ And whosoever fears Allah, He will create for him a way out. And He will give him provisions in a manner he could never anticipate” (At Talaaq:2 & 3). But we have been taught through the exemplary lives of Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) and his companions (Sahaabah) to strive so as to benefit from the bounties of Allah (SWT). In the holy Quraan, it has been mentioned that Allah “Created the day for seeking livelihood” (An Nabaa:11). Islam maintains that there is no sin if human beings seek wealth from the Almighty. The Quraan, however, cautions: “You who believe, let neither your wealth nor your children distract you from remembering Allah. Those who do so will be the losers.” (Al Munaafiqoon:9) Islam, thus, teaches Qanaa’ah (contentment) in daily business activities.

Materialistic approach to trade is profiteering. As such, Peter Drucker said, “Profitability is the sovereign criterion of the enterprise.” Louis D. Brandeis stressed the same stance in different words, “In business, the earning of profit is something more than an incident of success. It is an essential condition of success.”

Islamic concept of profitability is totally different. Here, collective welfare of society, rather than individual gain, is the sole criterion of the enterprise. A glaring example of this concept can be seen in the character of Hadhrat Usman. Once, a severe famine broke out in Madinah al Munawwarah. At that time a caravan arrived in the city which brought a large stock of food grains belonging to Hadhrat Usman. The traders of Madinah al Munawwarah rushed to him and offered him an attractive sale price of the goods. The highest bid provided for a cent per cent profit. Hadhrat Usman turned down the offer treating it as very low and said he had already had an offer of ten times profit. Flabbergasted, the traders wanted to know as to who had made such a fabulous offer. Hadhrat Usman said that Allah had made that offer to him. The he donated the entire stock for free distribution among the poor and the needy.

Islam’s emphasis on trade is projected by a Tradition of the Holy Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) in which he said, “Take to trade, because there are nine portions in trade out of ten portions of provisions.” However, he equally stressed on fair and honest dealings.

In Islam, honesty is not to be adopted as ”the best of policy” but as a matter of faith. The Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) warned, “One who deceives, is not of me.” The Quraan is replete with exhortations for honesty and admonitions against deceitful acts. At one place it ordains, “Do not argue for those who harbour deceit in their hearts, for Allah does not love the treacherous and the iniquitous”. (An Nisaa:107)

Adulteration, hoarding, tampering with weights and measures, swearing, etc. are all unfair trade practices which fall into the category of deceitful deeds. The following Quraanic injunctions deal with them:

“We give you (pure) milk which is wholesome to drink; And in fruits of the date-palm and the vine, from which you obtain inebriating drinks and excellent food. In this indeed are signs for those who understand.”(Al Nahl 67).

Woe to every slanderer, backbiter, who amasses wealth and hoards it.”(Al Humazah:1&2)

“Give full measures when you are measuring, and weigh on a balanced scale . “(Bani Israel:35)

“Do not heed a contemptible swearer.”(Al Qalam:10)

Denouncing hoarding of goods for the sake of higher profit, the Holy Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) said, “He who brings goods for sale is blessed with good fortune, but who keeps them till the price rises is accursed.”

As regards swearing in business activities he advised, “Be careful of excessive swearing in sale, because it increase the sale but reduces Barakah (blessings)".

In order to ensure overall welfare of society on the one hand, and frustrate the exploitative designs of unscrupulous elements on the other, Islam declared trade of a few things as unlawful. These include: (a) sale of fruits while still on trees for one or more years whether the fruits appear or not, (b) sale of fruits and corns before they are ripe and fit for human consumption, (C) sale of commodities before they come in the possession of the buyer (d) sale of uncaught fish in water, a bird in the air, milk in the udder and hair or wool upon an animal (all these are speculative transactions), (e) sale of wine, pork, etc., (f) sale of any article which cannot be separated from its original position without causing harm to some other object, (g) sale in exchange of canon, blood, the person of a free man, and (h) bargaining with the needy person and the poor.

Concealing the defect of a commodity for sale to attract a higher price (which is a common practice) has been held execrable. The Holy Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) once passed by a heap of corn. He thrust his hand therein, but his fingers touched moisture. He asked, “O the owner of corn! What is this? ”He replied, “Rain fell on it, O Allah’s Messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam)!” He enquired, “Have you not done so over the corn so that people may see it? Whoso acts with deceit is not of me.” The bargaining parties are required to be kind and courteous with each other. The Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) prayed, “May Allah be kind to a man of gentle dealings when he sells, when he purchases and when he gives decisions.” Similarly, fulfillment of promise has been made an essential condition of trade. One of the companions of the Holy Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) reported that in order to keep his promise in connection with a business matter, the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) was once detained for three days in a place. Quraanic injunctions on the subjects of courtesy and promise are very clear:

“.........and say kind things to (other) people “(Al Baqarah:83)

“...........and fulfill the promise made. You will surely be questioned about the promise.” (Bani Israel:34)

So, it is to be seen that trade is the harbinger of economic prosperity which is allowed in Islam. Muslims of the yore spread far and wide through commercial enterprises while at the same time propagating their religion. The deciding factor is not to amass wealth for seeking self-pleasure but to earn a legitimate livelihood so as to be free from worldly needs and be able to devote oneself to seeking the Divine pleasure.

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