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Business Ethics, Our Business, Intellectual Laziness

Issue 415 » March 2, 2007 - Safar 12, 1428

General

Living the Quran

Al Hud (Hud)
Chapter 11: Verses 84-85

Business Ethics
"To the Madyan people (We sent) Shuaib, one of their own brethren: he said: "O my people! Worship Allah: you have no other god but Him. And give not short measure or weight: I see you in prosperity, but I fear for you the Penalty of a Day that will encompass (you) all round. "And O my people! give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their due: commit not evil in the land with intent to do mischief."

Prophet Shuaib was sent among a people who were very much involved in business. These people were very proud of their business knowledge and success, but they were dishonest. He told them to observe ethics in business. They became very angry with him and told him, "Don't mix religion with business." The Qur'an tells us that Allah's punishment came upon those people and only Prophet Shuaib and his followers were saved.

It is indeed serious that everyone must adhere to ethical standards in business. Business and ethics are not separate, rather they are interconnected. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was an ideal human being in every respect. He was a very honest and successful businessman.

Prophet Muhammad gave many teachings on business and economic issues, he covered almost every aspect of business and economics. Here are only a few major principles of fair business dealings according to Islam.

  1. No fraud or deceit, the Prophet is reported to have said, "When a sale is held, say, ‘There's no cheating’" (Al-Bukhari).
  2. Sellers must avoid making too many oaths when selling merchandise. The Prophet  is reported to have said, "Be careful of excessive oaths in a sale. Though it finds markets, it reduces abundance" (Muslim).
  3. Mutual consent is necessary. The Prophet is reported to have said, "The sale is complete when the two involved depart with mutual consent" (Al-Bukhari).
  4. Be strict in regard to weights and measures. The Prophet is reported to have said, "When people cheat in weight and measures, their provision is cut off from them" (Al-Muwatta '). He told the owners of measures and weights, "You have been entrusted with affairs over which some nations before you were destroyed" (Al-Tirmidhi ).
  5. The Prophet forbade monopolies. "Whoever monopolizes is a sinner" (Abu Dawud ).
  6. Free enterprise, the price of the commodities should not be fixed unless there is a situation of crisis or extreme necessity.
  7. Hoarding merchandise in order to increase the prices is forbidden.
  8. Transaction of haram items, such as intoxicants, are forbidden.

Compiled From:
IslamOnline.net Fatwa Section - Muzammil Siddiqi
Understanding the Prophet's Life
It is Our Business

How many of us have looked to our brothers and sisters in Islam and have seen them straying from the path of Allah, and have turned our faces away? How many of us have seen our brothers erring and said to ourselves, it is none of my business? Well, it is our business for the Prophet (peace be upon him) has made it our business. In the hadith related by Tamim ad-Dari, the Prophet said, "The religion is nasiha." The people asked, "To whom?" The Prophet replied, "To Allah and to His Book and to His Messenger and to the leaders of the Muslims and the common folk." [Collected by Bukhari, Muslim]

[continued from previous issue]

Nasiha to the leaders of the Muslims

It is wajib (obligatory) to give nasiha to the leaders of the Muslims, since they have faults and are not protected from committing errors, but who are the leaders of the Muslims?

i) They are the Caliphs and others responsible for the affairs of the Muslims.
ii) They are religious scholars.

As for giving nasiha to the rulers of the Muslims, it includes:

i) Assisting and obeying them in the right.
ii) Reminding them if they err or forget.
iii) Making Jihad with them.

Giving nasiha to the scholars includes:

i) Spreading their knowledge.
ii) Spreading their virtues.
iii) Having good opinion about them.
iv) Accepting their rulings if they give sound proofs for their decisions.
v) Giving them the benefit of the doubt, or making excuses for them if they make mistakes.
vi) Honouring and respecting them.

[to be continued in the coming issues]

Compiled From:
"Directions to Giving Naseehah" - Kamil Mufti, Al Jumuah Magazine

Blindspot!

Intellectual Laziness

It is unfortunate that intellectual laziness has become widespread among today's students, and they have come to prefer rest and idleness over striving and struggling. Luxury and all forms of useless curiosity have become a purpose of life for them, and pleasures have become a goal for them, such that they have no time left for studying and seeking knowledge. Their state has come to resemble that refered to by Imam Ahmad ibn Faris al-Razi, the philosophist born in 329 AH, died 395 AH, may Allah have mercy on him, when he said:

If you are harmed by the heat of summer
And the dryness of autumn and the cold of winter
And you are distracted by the beauty of springtime
Then tell me: when will you seek knowledge?!

Compiled From:
"The Value of Time" - Abd Al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah