In the Muslim countries of the Middle East, the true form of business can be seen during the month of Ramadan. There, traders try to reduce the price of goods on the occasion of Ramadan. Because, the businessmen there use their business in this month to collect capital for the hereafter, they don focus on worldly gains in business. At this time, they also vowed special offers and discounts on product prices on the occasion of Ramadan and Eid.
Various reports were published on these issues in the international media. Because, they believe-no work of a believer is in vain; if we follow the rules, all actions are his worship. They also consider business as a form of worship and salvation in the afterlife. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) gave special good news to those who do honest business for public welfare. He said, "An honest and trustworthy merchant will be with the Prophets, the Siddiqeen (truthful) and the martyrs on the Day of Judgment"(Tirmidhi).
It is said in the Holy Quran, "O believers! When the call to prayer is made on the day of Jumuah, then run to the remembrance of Allah and give up buying and selling, that is better for you if you realize. And when the prayer is finished, spread out in the world and seek the favor of Allah and remember Allah more, that you may be successful (Surah Jumaa 9-10). The Prophet (PBUH) said, Seeking halal (valid and lawful in Islam) sustenance is as important as obligatory worship (Bayhaqi). Hazrat Umar (RA) said, None of you should leave the pursuit of livelihood and sit idle. It is clearly indicated in various commentaries of the Quran and Hadith that besides worshiping Allah Taala, one should also make legitimate efforts to earn ones livelihood, that effort must be continued. Not only that, the effort to earn a living through legitimate means is also worship. For this you will get a lot of reward from Allah Rabbul Alamin. Moreover, halal earning is an essential prerequisite for acceptance of worship and one of the main means of halal earning is doing business in a legal way.
As halal trade is the best means of livelihood, Rasulullah (SAW), Khulafay Rashedin and most of the Companions used to earn their living through trade and commerce. On the other hand, infidel polytheists like Qarun, Haman, Abu Jahl, Utba-Shayba, Ubai Ibn Khalaf etc. used to make a living through fraudulent and forbidden interest-based haram trade. Regarding halal trade and commerce, Allah Almighty says, Allah has made trade halal and usury forbidden (Surah Baqarah 275). Elsewhere, Ershad says, O believers! Do not take each others wealth unjustly, only that which is done by mutual consent is lawful (Surah Nisa 29). In the mentioned verse, unjustly refers here to all methods, which are contrary to truth and justice and illegal from the point of view of morals and Shariah. Transaction means the exchange of interests and profits between each other, as in business, industry and technology etc. There one labors to supply the needs of another and gives in return. Moreover, it is said in the above verse, in cases where the wealth of others is acquired by resorting to usury, gambling, fraud, etc. in the name of business, acquiring wealth in those ways is not included in legitimate business, rather it is haram and invalid. Similarly, even in the case of normal business, if there is no sincere satisfaction of both parties in the transaction, then such purchase and sale is also void and haraam.
Islam has never given anyone unfettered freedom. All cases have certain rules and restrictions. There was no exception in the field of income generation and business. There are basically two principles of Islam in this regard. First, all transactions must be materially and fundamentally valid. For example, involvement in alcohol, gambling, usury, bribery, etc. is not permitted in Islam, no matter how profitable it may be. Because these things are considered harmful in Islam and are fundamentally forbidden. Second, the business must be conducted in a lawful manner in all circumstances, i.e., there cannot be any kind of cheating, adulteration, underweight and loopholes.
It is illegal in Islam to stockpile goods or remove them from the market and raise prices in the hope of greater profit. Hoarding is the act of hoarding essential commodities during a crisis or famine, creating an artificial crisis and then selling those commodities at an extra profit. Such work reduces the purchasing power of the common people and many people suffer, adding to their suffering. Moreover, it is also a social crime. In this context, Rasul (PBUH) said, "Whoever keeps the food grains of the Muslims, Allah imposes poverty on him." (Sunan Abi Dawud). Narrated by Saeed Ibn Musayyib (RA), Rasul (PBUH) said, "No one stores goods except sinners." (Tirmidhi). In another hadith narrated by Umar (R.A.), Rasul (S.A.) Said, "Whoever hoards the food of the Muslims (in the hope of increasing the price), Allah will punish him with sickness and poverty." (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Rasul (PBUH) said, The best income is good selling. Gather materials for life through handicrafts. Beneficial selling is done so that the mutual cooperation and welfare of buyers and sellers is ensured. There will be no cheating, embezzlement and disobedience to Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) said that harming oneself and harming others should not be done. Cheating, fraud and evasion are identified as gross violations of human rights in Islam. No Muslim can combine truth with falsehood. It is mentioned in the Quran, O you who believe, do not mix truth with falsehood. Don knowingly hide the truth. It is obligatory to maintain honesty in every field of business and life. Deceit by passing off bad things as good, mixing good with bad, deceiving the weight for self-interest, mixing more expensive with less expensive or any other adulteration and selling the genuine at a high price. A clear declaration in the Hadith Sharif against such fraud, He who cheats in business and adulterates goods is not of my party (Muslim Sharif).
Islam is a perfect way of life. The direction of Islam is to earn ones livelihood in a lawful way, whatever the profession. It will not be accepted by Allah if he worships by enjoying wealth earned in haram or illegal ways. Because halal or lawful earnings are a necessary prerequisite for the acceptance of worship. Rasul (PBUH) he said, "Working with ones own hands and earning by doing business in a halal way is the best." Islam has encouraged to do business and trade in the halal way as a profession of earning, and has also forbidden to earn money and wealth in an illegal way. While it is possible to gain temporary wealth by taking refuge in falsehood, the end result is very dire. Therefore, we must avoid illegal and anti-Islamic activities such as injustice, oppression, deception, fraud, profiteering, black market, hoarding etc. and do business with honesty.
