Concept of Business in Islam -Rashid Mateen Khan

rashidmateenkhan@yahoo.com
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
Narrated by Hazrat Anas bin Malik R.A
6
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.

7
Bukhari, Muslim
8
Narrated by Abu Saeed R. A
9
Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi
10
Narrated by Ayesha R.A
11
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah R.A