How to Succeed in Trade
There is much
good in trade for those who are truthful and avoid lying and deception. Allah
grants them provision and blesses their earnings. The Prophet, peace and
blessings be upon him, said in the authentic hadith: “The two parties to a
transaction have the option to annul it as long as they have not parted. If
they are truthful and disclose the defects of the goods, they will be blessed
in their transaction. If they conceal and lie, the blessing of their
transaction will be erased.” Thus, truthfulness and transparency in trade are
among the means of earning profit, attaining success, and receiving blessing.
Lying
and Deception Erase the Blessing of Trade
Lying and
deception in business dealings are among the causes of Allah’s anger and the
removal of blessing, as well as the loss of wealth. The Prophet, peace and
blessings be upon him, said: “There are three whom Allah will not speak to, nor
look at, nor purify on the Day of Resurrection, and they will have a painful
punishment: the one who lets his garment hang below his ankles, the one who
reminds others of what he has given them, and the one who sells his merchandise
by means of a false oath.” This was narrated by Muslim in his Sahih. By
including the one who sells his merchandise through false oaths among these
people, the Prophet demonstrated the evil of lying in trade and business
dealings, and that it is a grave wrongdoing, even if it results in an increase
in wealth. Such wealth, however, is deprived of blessing and accompanied by
Allah’s anger. Therefore, a believer should never take lying and deception
lightly.
The one who
lets his garment hang below his ankles was mentioned alongside them because
doing so can lead to arrogance and pride, which ultimately lead a person to the
Fire and expose him to the anger of Allah. The Prophet, peace and blessings be
upon him, said: “Whoever drags his garment out of pride, Allah will not look at
him on the Day of Resurrection.” Thus, letting one’s garments hang below the
ankles can lead to such behavior and often results in it, which is why the
warning against it is so severe and the matter is so serious.
The
Honest Merchant Is Among the Righteous
He, peace and
blessings be upon him, also encouraged and urged people to engage in trade,
saying: “The truthful, trustworthy merchant is with the Prophets, the truthful,
and the martyrs.” The truthful and trustworthy Muslim merchant possesses
several essential qualities: he is a Muslim, trustworthy, and truthful. As for
a Muslim who is treacherous, deceitful, and dishonest, no, he is not among
them. Trade must therefore be conducted by someone who is truthful and
trustworthy, not treacherous or dishonest.
You have also
heard what was mentioned in the previous hadith: “If they conceal and lie, the
blessing of their transaction will be erased.” The Prophet, peace and blessings
be upon him, also said: “The merchants will be resurrected on the Day of
Resurrection as wicked people, except those who fear Allah, act righteously,
and are truthful.” Since lying, treachery, and greed for wealth through
unlawful means were prevalent among merchants, they would be resurrected on the
Day of Resurrection as wicked people, except those who fear Allah, act
righteously, and are truthful. We ask Allah for well being. The prevalent
practices among them included deception, lying, indifference to what is right,
and pursuing every means of acquiring wealth, even when that wealth was
obtained through prohibited means such as usury, deception, lying, treachery,
and the like. This was the prevailing condition. Hence, the Prophet said of
them that they would be resurrected as wicked people, except those who fear
Allah, act righteously, and are truthful. Whoever fears Allah in his dealings,
acts righteously in his oaths, and speaks truthfully is safe. Such a person
will be gathered with the truthful, the Prophets, and the martyrs because his
dealings are sound, he is truthful, and he guards his tongue against lying.
Wealth
Without Blessing Becomes a Burden
As for the one
who prefers this world over the Hereafter and does not care about lying,
treachery, and deception, he exposes himself to Allah’s anger and also to the
loss of his wealth and the removal of its blessing. Even if his wealth becomes
as vast as that of Qarun, once its blessing is removed, it becomes a source of
harm to him. It becomes a burden upon him and provisions for his journey to the
Fire. We seek refuge in Allah. Even if he possesses billions, his punishment
and torment will only be more severe. Those who possess great stores of wealth
and treasure will be punished on the Day of Resurrection through their wealth
and treasures. They will be heated and used to punish them again and again.
Whenever they cool, they will be reheated, on a Day whose measure is fifty
thousand years. Whenever they cool, they will be heated again, and they will be
branded with them. Their foreheads, sides, and backs will be branded when they
failed to fulfill the rights due on their wealth and did not pay its zakat.
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