MONEY MATTERS - BUSINESS DEALS

 BUSINESS DEALS

Note: Islam is a complete way of life covering all aspects as such instructions regarding business deals which can easily damage & hurt the Rights of Fellow Beings are dully emphasized & covered in Quran in the longest Ayah, appended below. Prophet (s) reminds this reality in most eloquent words; “Al-Deen Kullo Muamilat” Religion is but Mutual Affairs between people.

“O Believers, when you contract a debt for a fixed; ³²⁵ term, you should put it in writing. ³²⁶ Let a scribe write with equity the document for the parties. The scribe whom Allah has given the gift of literacy should not refuse to write. Let him write and let the one under obligation (the debtor) dictate, and he should fear Allah, his Lord, and should not diminish from or add anything to the terms which have been settled. But if the borrower be of low understanding or weak or unable to dictate (for any reason), then let the guardian of his interests dictate it with equity. And let two men from among you ³²⁷ bear witness to all such documents. But if two men be not available, there should be one man and two women to bear witness so that if one of the women forgets (anything), the other may remind her. The witnesses should be from among such people whom you approve of as witnesses. ³²⁸ When the witnesses are asked to testify, they should not refuse to do so. Do not neglect to reduce to writing your transaction for a specified term, whether it be big or small. Allah considers this more just for you, for it facilitates the establishment of evidence and lessens doubts and suspicions. Of course, there is no harm if you do not put in writing the common transactions you conclude daily on the spot, ³²⁹ but in case of commercial transactions you should have witnesses. The scribe and the witnesses should not be harassed: ³³⁰ if you do so, you shall be guilty of sin. You should guard against the wrath of Allah; He gives you the knowledge of the right way for Allah has the knowledge of everything.”  

(1) Brokers exploiting ignorance of buyer
disallowed in business

Bukhari Volume 3, Book 37, Number 2274:

Narrated Tawus:

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Prophet (s) forbade the meeting of caravans (on the way) and ordained that no townsman is permitted to sell things on behalf of a bedouin." I asked Ibn 'Abbas, "What is the meaning of his saying, 'No townsman is permitted to sell things on behalf of a bedouin.' “He replied, "He should not work as a broker for him."

Note: Objective is not to exploit some trader’s lack of knowledge about market value of his products etc. 

(2) Business deals swearing is purchasing small gain,
no portion Hereafter 3:77

Bukhari Volume 3, Book 34, Number 2088:

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Abu Aufa:

A man displayed some goods in the market and swore by Allah that he had been offered so much for that, that which was not offered, and he said so, so as to cheat a Muslim. On that occasion the following Verse was revealed:

"Verily”! Those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's covenant and their oaths (They shall have no portion in the Hereafter etc.)' (3:77)

“As for those who barter away their Covenant with Allah and their own oaths for a paltry profit; they shall have no share in the Hereafter; Allah will not speak to them nor even look at them nor cleanse them of sins on the Day of Resurrection. ⁶⁵ There is, on the other hand, a painful punishment in store for them.” (3:77)

(3) Business with Mushrik enemy

(99) CHAPTER. Buying and selling with Mushikun (pagans) and with the enemy at war.

Bukhari Volume 3, Book 34, Number 2216:

Narrated 'Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Bakr:

We were with the Prophet (s) when a tall pagan with long matted unkempt hair came driving his sheep. The Prophet (s) asked him, "Are those sheep for sale or for gifts?" The pagan replied, "They are for sale." The Prophet (s) bought one sheep from him.

(4) Buying selling Avoid making Easy money
Special Precautions

Bukhari Volume 8, Book 86, Number 6852:

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:

Those people who used to buy foodstuff at random (without weighing or measuring it) were beaten in the lifetime of Allah's Apostle (s) if they sold it at the very place where they had bought it, till they carried it to their dwelling places.

NOTE: Making money without putting in the hard work is discouraged because this trend has many drawbacks, especially in the long run. Such practice results in rat race for money which would mostly be spent without due consideration resulting in downfall of morals as a whole. Following Ayahs of Surah Tukasar are worth pondering here.  

“Your craze for more and more and mutual rivalry for worldly gains has made you heedless, ¹ until you reach the graves. ² By no means! Soon you shall know! ³ Again (note it well) by no means! Soon you shall know. Nay! Had you known with certainty of knowledge (the end of this way of life you would never have acted thus). You shall certainly see Hell. Again (note it well that) you shall most certainly see it. Then, on that Day, you shall certainly be called to account for the blessings and comforts of life. ⁴” (Surah Tukasar)

(5) Joint properties & Haq Shufa
Pre-emption

(8) CHAPTER. Sharing land, etc.

Bukhari Volume 3, Book 47, Number 2495:

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:

The Prophet (s) established the right of Shu'fa (i.e. Pre-emption) in joint properties; but when the land is divided and the ways are demarcated, then there is no pre-emption.   

(9) CHAPTER. If partners divide the houses, etc. none of them has the right of backing out or the right of pre-emption.

Bukhari Volume 3, Book 47, Number 2496:

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:

The Prophet (s) said, "The right of pre-emption is valid in every joint property, but when the land is divided and the way is demarcated, then there is no right of pre-emption."

(6) Payment for medical treatment
such as getting cupped

Bukhari Volume 3, Book 37, Number 2279:

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:

When the Prophet (s) was cupped, he paid the man who cupped him his wages. If it had been undesirable he would not have paid him.

(7) Playing tricks to fool the buyer – alluring to get high price

Bukhari Volume 9, Book 90, Number 6963:

Narrated Ibn 'Umar:

Allah's Apostle (s) forbade the practice of An-Najsh.

Translator’s Note: At-Tanajush or Najsh means the trick of offering a very high price for a thing to allure somebody else to buy it although it is not worth such a high price.

Bukhari Volume 8, Book 78, Number 6066:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle (s) said, "Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales. and do not look for the others' faults, and do not do spying on one another, and do not practice Najsh, (Note) and do not be jealous of one another and do not hate one another, and do not desert (stop talking to) one another. And O, Allah's worshipers! Be brothers!"  

Translator’s Note: Najsh means to offer a high price for something in order to allure another customer who is interested in same thing.

Bukhari Volume 3, Book 34, Number 2140:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle (s) forbade the selling of things by a town dweller on behalf of a desert dweller; and similarly Najsh was forbidden. And one should not urge somebody to return the goods to the seller so as to sell him his own goods; nor should one demand the hand of a girl who has already been engaged to someone else; and a woman should not try to cause some other woman to be divorced in order to take her place.  

Translator’s Note: “Najsh” means to offer a high price for something without having the intention to buy it but just to cheat somebody else who really wants to buy it. Such a person may agree with the seller to offer high prices before the buyers to cheat them, in which case both this man and the seller are sinful. The seller may falsely tell the buyer that he (i.e. the seller) has previously bought the goods at a certain price which is in reality higher than the actual price.

 (8) Usury different types 

(26) CHAPTER. "Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms). And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners!" (2:276)

Bukhari Volume 3, Book 34, Number 2087:

Narrated Abu Hurairah;

I heard Allah's Messenger (s) saying, "The swearing (by the seller) may persuade the buyer to purchase the goods but that will be deprived of Allah's Blessing."

Translator’s Note: Hadis confirms the fact that what you earn illegally, decreases ultimately, for it will be deprived of Allah's Blessing and it will result in bringing about punishment in the Hereafter; while what you give in charity will be compensated for by the Blessing of Allah many times, and you will be rewarded for it in the Hereafter as well.