I wish to focus on an aspect of
Islam which is often a neglected topic and many people I personally know view it
as less significant.THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD BUSINESS DEALINGS IN ISLAM :Honesty
in commercial dealings is more strictly enjoined by Islam than by any other
religion. It is because Islam is a religion which regulates and directs life in
all its departments. It is not to be regarded, like the modern man's religion.
as a personal, private affair, which has nothing to do with his economic and
political life. It is not merely a body of dogmas or a bundle of rites and
rituals; it is a practical code which governs life in all its spheres. Its laws
are as effectively operative in our commerce and politics as in our domestic
life and social relations. Islam censures political chicanery and economic
exploitation as strongly as social excesses and individual dishonesty. Indeed, a
true Islamic society is based upon honesty, justice and fraternity, and is
absolutely intolerant of dishonesty in all its various forms. That is the reason
why perfect honesty in business and truthfulness in trade are much emphasised by
the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him). It will not be an exaggeration to say
that absolute honesty in business and commerce is really an Islamic
concept.Islam lays the greatest emphasis on Qat Haldl (food earned through
lawful means). The pious among us believe that just as nasty food spolis our
physical health, similarly. food earned through unlawful means spoils our
spiritual and moral health. A man who lives on income derived through illicit
means and fraudulent practices cannot be morally advanced and spiritually
elevated. If we try to comprehend the exact, implications of the term Haram
(unlawful) we can form an idea of the high standard of morality on which Islam
wants us to conduct our business. And, if business is conducted strictly in
accordance with the Islamic principles of commerce, there can be absolutely no
scope for any kind of commercial dishonesty varying from the simplest and most
glaring type of business fraud to the most cunning and subtle type of
profiteering which is often masked under a semblance of honesty.Islam is most
vehement in its condemnation of commercial dishonesty. It denounced, in the
strongest possible terms, all sorts of deceitful dealings and illegal profits.
It has disallowed all transactions not based upon justice and fairplay The Holy
Prophet (may peace be upon him), while reprimanding the dishonest dealer, said:
"Laisa minna man gashshdna" (Whosoever deceives us is not one of us).According
to Imam Ghazali, a Muslim who makes up his mind to adopt trade as a profession
or to set up his own business should first acquire a thorough understanding of
the rules of business transactions codified in the Islamic Shari'ah. Without
such understanding he will go astray and fail into serious lapses making his
earning unlawful. No people in the world have ever attached so much importance
to lawful trading as did the early Muslims, nor has any other nation evinced
such a dread of unlawful trading as they did. That is why al-Ghazali said stress
on a clear understanding of the rules and laws governing business transactions
as a necessary prerequisite to adopting trade or business as a profession.The
Holy Qur'an has stressed the importance of fairness in business: "And, O my
people, give full measure and weight justly, and defraud not men of their
things, and act not corruptly in the land making mischief. What remains with
Allah is better for you, if you are believers" (xi. 85-86).All transactions
should be based on the fundamental principle of "Ta'auanu ala birri wa't-taqwa"
(mutual co-operation for the cause of goodness or piety). A transaction not
based upon this sound principle is not lawful. Unlawful transactions are
motivated by lust for money and an ignoble desire to build up prestige. Islam
strikes at the root of the passion for money and suggests a different yardstick
to measure the prestige of a person. The Holy Qur'an, on the one hand, condemns
hoarding and the excessive love for wealth, and, on the other, declares virtue
and piety to be the criterion for determining a person's worth. "Inna akramakum
`ind-Allahi atqakum" (The noblest in the eyes of God is the most pious among
you). Thus does Islam minimise in every possible way the temptation to illegal
trade and traffic. Let us now take note of the forms of business transactions
which have been prohibited in Islam. The Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him)
has not only disapproved of certain forms of business transactions, but has also
laid down some basic conditions that should be fulfilled in every transaction if
it is to be lawful.The following are some of these basic conditions:Things sold
and money offered as their price to be lawfully acquired. The things sold and
the money to be offered as their price should both be lawfully acquired and
clearly specified. This condition demands that the goods sold should have been
lawfully obtained.Goods not to be sold before obtaining their possession. The
Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) has warned the Muslims against indulging in
forward transactions which means selling goods before obtaining their
possession. "Whoever buys cereals shall not tell them until he has obtained
their possession," says the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him). According to
Ibn 'Abbas, what applies to cereals also applies to other categories of goods.No
trade and traffic in things, the use of which is prohibited by Islam. A Muslim
can trade in those goods and commodities only the use of which has been declared
to be Halal (lawful).Prohibited forms of BusinessMonopoly business. As monopoly
means concentration of supply in one hand, it leads to exploitation of the
consumers and the workers, it has, therefore, been declared unlawful by the Holy
Prophet (may peace be upon him).Speculative business basd on selfish interest.
Speculation means buying something cheap in bulk at a time and selling it dear
at another and, thus, controlling the whole market to achieve personal gains. A
close observation will reveal that speculators are primarily interested in
private gains regardless of the larger interest of the society. These
speculators try to create artificial scarcity of goods and commodities and
thereby create an inflationary pressure on the economy. As the poor masses have
to pay for this. Islam has condemned such speculative business.Interest
transactions. All transactions involving interest are forbidden in Islam. Some
people find it hard to submit to the injunction prohibiting interest, because
they think interest and profit earned in trade are similar. Capital invested in
trade brings an excess called profit; invested in banking it brings interest.
Although many muslims claim that it is almost impossible to completely avoid
interest in this day and age, we should try our utmost to avoid it.Transactions
similar (in nature) to gambling. The Arabic equivalent to gambling is Maisir
which literarily means "getting something too easily", "getting a profit without
working for it"Bai' al-Gharar. It is to sell a thing which one doesn't have in
one's possession, nor expects to bring it under one's control, e g. fish in the
river, or birds in the air. Possession is one of the basic conditions of a sale.
One cannot sell a thing which is not in one's possession.Forcible transactions
or transactions in which the buyer takes undue. advantage of the helplessness or
misery of the seller are also discouraged.In conclusion Islam discourages any
fraudulent and immoral behaviour in business dealings. If one examines the state
of business dealings in the world today, it is contrary to everything Islam
stands for, so much so that besides the gigantic international corporations,
even governments are commiting endless fraud. May Allah save us from this fitnah.
Ameen