Concept Of Business In Islam

Concept of Business in Islam -Rashid Mateen Khan [email protected] Riphah International university

Islam and Dunia There is a miss conception of people about Islam that Islam is a religion of Mosque and some festivals in a year. So Muslims are bounded in prayers, Hajj and some other spiritual activities. But in reality, Islam does not allow recluse in its teaching. Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam says, “By God, I do certainly dread God more than you all. And Fear him most, but as for me, I fast and eat (also), and I Pray (at night) and sleep (also), I also marry women. Whoso then is averse to my example he is not of me5”. Usman bin Mazun (R.A) had vowed to stand up in prayer all night and to fast all day and never marry a woman. The Prophet sent a word to him saying, “Are you averse to my example? Verily I sleep and I pray (also), I fast and eat (also), and I also marry women. So fear God, O Usman! For verily there is a duty on you to your people, and to your neighbors and to yourself. So, keep fast and eat also, pray (at night) and sleep also”6. So according to these hadith the Prophet Himself laid an example and guided the followers about Islam; that it does not restrict or give plainly spiritual teaching. Islam is the religion of businessmen Allah introduces Islam in the society, firstly to the people who were businessmen/traders. Arabs used to travel the entire world for trade. The last Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam belongs to Arabs. His uncle Abu Talib was a merchant. So, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam inherited profession. He also traveled for trade. Two of his journeys are very famous. First time he traveled when he was just a small boy with his uncle to Sham. And second time, in the age of 25, he served Hazrat Khadija (R.A) as a dealer and set an example in the society regarding profit. Early followers of Hazrat Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam were also businessmen like Hazrat Abu Bakar (R.A), Hazrar Usman (R.A) and Abdur-Rahman bin Auf )R.A). The other Prophets, Hazrat Ibrahim (his father made and sold statues), Hazrat Noah (carpenter), Hazrat Daud, Hazrat Idris (tailor), also used to do business of different kinds. Therefore, it can be seen that Islam is not only a religion of mosque or some spiritual values, but it also covers the business world and is actually the religion of businessmen. Sharia and business The whole Sharia is divided into three classes 1. Ibadat (Salat, hajj, zakat, toheed ) 2. Morality (principles,ethics) 3. Mohamilat 5 6

Narrated by Hazrat Anas bin Malik R.A Narrated by Hazrat Ayesh R.A

Business falls in the category of Mohamilat, as far as it traditionally expected and viewed. But in Sharia, business comes in the purview of all classes of Sharia. For example, once the Prophet was in the market. He saw a person selling wheat. It was looking good but when he put his hand through it, it was wet from inside. The Prophet then said those who betray people (the customer) are not amongst us7. Form this hadith we can easily under stand that Business is a mohamila, in selling process it becomes an ethical issue and if it is deal with good manner it becomes ibadat. Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam emphasizes on the moral of a merchant or business. There are a lot of hadith regarding the business ethics. The prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam says, “A merchant who is trustworthy and truthful (to the customer) shall be with the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the righteous8”. On another occasion he said, “The seller and the buyer have each the choice, so long as they are not separated. But if the seller and the buyer speak the truth, and point out (the real worth of their merchandise), they shall be blessed in their merchandise; and if they speak a lie, and hide (the defect or the merit), they may perhaps make a profit, but the blessing of God is blotted out of the merchandise9. These hadith proves that business is a mohamila. The prophet also said, “The best of you is he who is the best to his people”10; and, “The most perfect of Mumins, in prior of faith, is he who is the best in disposition, and the best of you is he who is the best among you to his people.”11 Conclusion Business is a part of Islam. Islam not only teaches to be faithful to God just by performing prayes and visiting Masjid regularly, but it also explains how to carry out different tasks in life, including business, according to the Islamic teachings.

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Bukhari, Muslim Narrated by Abu Saeed R. A 9 Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi 10 Narrated by Ayesha R.A 11 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah R.A 8