Trade & Commerce Introduction

TRADE AND COMMERCE

There are no two opinions that the trade and commerce play a very crucial role in the acquisition of wealth. It is next to Jihad, but superior to industry, agriculture and service. Commerce is a harbinger of good news and prosperity and forms the backbone of acquisition of wealth.

The Holy Quraan says: “We have made the day a means of earning livelihood.” (78:11) The Holy Quraan also gives us encouragement to take up business by saying: There is no sin on you to seek wealth from your Lord.

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) said: “Take to trade, because there are nine portions in trade out of ten portions of provisions.” (Ihya-ul-Uloom by Imam Ghazzali)

The Companions of the Glorious Prophet of Islam (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) carried on maritime and land trade throughout the then known world and thus Arab merchants carried the torch of new light to the darkest corners of the world. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) himself carried on trade as an agent of the famous Arab lady, Sayyidah Khadijah. The major Caliphs, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddique was a cloth merchant, while Sayyiduna Omar Farooq, the Second Caliph of the Islamic Commonwealth carried on corn trade. Sayyiduna Usman Ghani had a business in textiles.

Islam laid much stress on honesty in almost all dealings especially in trade and commerce. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) classed an honest merchant with a Prophet on account of the merchant’s following the Sharee’ah rules in trade, classed him with the truthful on account of his being steadfast to truth, and classed him with a Martyr on account of his fighting with heavy odds in treading the path of virtue and honesty in his profession. 2 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk

Sayyiduna Jaabir reported that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) said: “There was a man amongst those who were before you. The Angel came to him to take his breath. He was questioned, ‘Have you done any good deed?’ He replied, ‘I don’t know.’ The Angel said, ‘Try to remember.’ He said, ‘I don’t know anything except that I used to carry on business with the people in the world, show kindness to them, give time to the solvent and remit the needy’. Then Allah admitted him in Paradise.” (Agreed)

Sayyiduna Abu Sa’eed reported that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) said: “The truthful trustworthy merchant will be with the Prophets, Truthful and Martyrs”. (Tirmidi)

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra reported that the Holy Prophet of Islam (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) said: “Oath is a means of bargain for the commodities but a cause of deterioration in blessing.” (Agreed)