ÈÓã Çááå ÇáÑÍãä ÇáÑÍíã

Earning a Living

Know that Allah in His infinite wisdom made this world a place of causes and of earnings. Some are for this world (our sustenance) and some are for the hereafter. This section is about the etiquettes and rulings of business, trades, manufacturing, etc. and about the necessity of working and earning one's living.

The High Status of Earning a Living

æóÎóáóÞúäóÇßõãú ÃóÒúæóÇÌðÇ(8)æóÌóÚóáúäóÇ äóæúãóßõãú ÓõÈóÇÊðÇ(9)æóÌóÚóáúäóÇ Çááøóíúáó áöÈóÇÓðÇ(10)æóÌóÚóáúäóÇ ÇáäøóåóÇÑó ãóÚóÇÔðÇ(11)

{And we created you in pairs (8) And we made your sleep a time of rest (9) And we made the night a garment (10) And we made the day a time of acquiring your provision (11)} An-Naba'

æóÇáúæóÒúäõ íóæúãóÆöÐò ÇáúÍóÞøõ Ýóãóäú ËóÞõáóÊú ãóæóÇÒöíäõåõ ÝóÃõæáóÆößó åõãõ ÇáúãõÝúáöÍõæäó(8)æóãóäú ÎóÝøóÊú ãóæóÇÒöíäõåõ ÝóÃõæáóÆößó ÇáøóÐöíäó ÎóÓöÑõæÇ ÃóäúÝõÓóåõãú ÈöãóÇ ßóÇäõæÇ ÈöÂíóÇÊöäóÇ íóÙúáöãõæäó(9)æóáóÞóÏú ãóßøóäøóÇßõãú Ýöí ÇáúÃóÑúÖö æóÌóÚóáúäóÇ áóßõãú ÝöíåóÇ ãóÚóÇíöÔó ÞóáöíáðÇ ãóÇ ÊóÔúßõÑõæäó(10)

{The balance that day will be the truth. So whoever's scale is heavy, these are the successful ones. (8) And whoever's scale is light, these are the ones who lost themselves by their oppression with regard to Our verses. (9) And we have enabled them in the earth and made for them therein the means of their living. How little you give thanks. (10)} Al-A'raaf

áóíúÓó Úóáóíúßõãú ÌõäóÇÍñ Ãóäú ÊóÈúÊóÛõæÇ ÝóÖúáðÇ ãöäú ÑóÈøößõãú ...

{There is no sin upon you foryou to seek [a living] from the generosity of your Lord...(i.e., during the Hajj)} Al-Baqarah:198

In the first verse, Allah mentions the ability to earn a living in the land as one of His favors upon us. In the second verse, Allah mentions it as one of his ni'am (plural of ni'ma, Allah's favors our bounties) and reminds us that we should show gratitude for this and all of Allah's ni'am. The third verse is in the context of the Hajj - a time of worship and remembrance of Allah. Even during this event, Allah gives his permission to seek means of living through trade or work.

As for the hadith, the Prophet (sas) said:

ãóÇ Ãóßóáó ÃóÍóÏñ ØóÚóÇãðÇ ÞóØøõ ÎóíúÑðÇ ãöäú Ãóäú íóÃúßõáó ãöäú Úóãóáö íóÏöåö æóÅöäøó äóÈöíøó Çááøóåö ÏóÇæõÏó Úóáóíúåö ÇáÓøóáóÇã ßóÇäó íóÃúßõáõ ãöäú Úóãóáö íóÏöåö

"No one ever ate any food superior to that which came from the labor of his hands. The prophet of Allah Daud (as) used to eat from the labor of his hands." Al-Bukhari

ßóÇäó ÒóßóÑöíøóÇÁõ äóÌøóÇÑðÇ

"Zakariya was a carpenter."  Muslim

It is narrated that Ibn Abbas said: "Adam (as) was a plowman, Nuh was a carpenter, Idris was a tailor, Ibrahim and Lut were farmers, Salih was a trader, Daud was a manufacturer of armor and Musa, Shuaib and Muhammad (sas) were shepherds."

It is also narrated that Luqman said to his son: "Dear son, seek strength from lawful earnings for whenever anyone becomes poor, they are afflicted in three ways: weakness in his religion, weakness in intelligence and decline in his reputation or respect. More serious than all of these three is the disregard of the people for him."

It was once said to Iman Ahmad, "What do you say about one who sits in his house or in the masjid and says, 'I will do nothing until my sustenance comes to me.'?"  He said, "This is a man who is ignorant of the knowledge. Did he not hear the statement of the Prophet (sas), 'Allah made my provision in the shadow of my spear...'? And Allah said when he mentioned the birds: {They go out in the morning hungry and come back in the evening well-fed.}".

The hadith he is referring to is in Al-Bukhari as follows:

ÌõÚöáó ÑöÒúÞöí ÊóÍúÊó Ùöáøö ÑõãúÍöí æóÌõÚöáó ÇáÐøöáøóÉõ æóÇáÕøóÛóÇÑõ Úóáóì ãóäú ÎóÇáóÝó ÃóãúÑöí

"My provision has been made in the shadow of my spear and humiliation and weakness is upon those who oppose my order."

Without the existence of the nation and state of Islam which was established by Allah's Messenger (sas) and which we have been ordered to establish and maintain, even our "living" is in jeopardy because the disbelievers will never be content in allowing us any ease or power.  Allah said about them:

ßóíúÝó æóÅöäú íóÙúåóÑõæÇ Úóáóíúßõãú áóÇ íóÑúÞõÈõæÇ Ýöíßõãú ÅöáøðÇ æóáóÇ ÐöãøóÉð íõÑúÖõæäóßõãú ÈöÃóÝúæóÇåöåöãú æóÊóÃúÈóì ÞõáõæÈõåõãú æóÃóßúËóÑõåõãú ÝóÇÓöÞõæäó(8)

{How [could there be such a treaty] seeing that if they gain power over you they respect not in you ties of either kinship or of covenant? They entice you with [fair words from] their mouths but their hearts refuse and most of them are wicked.} At-Tauba

The Companions of Allah's Messenger used to trade by land and by sea and work on their date farms. They are our example.

Abu Sulaiman Ad-Daaraani said: "Worship is not to us to put your feet in line while someone else tires for you. Rather, start with your two loaves of bread, be assured of them and then worship."  If it is said, "But Abu Ad-Dardaa (a Companion) said, 'I undertook trade and worship but they did not come together, so I chose worship.'" The answer is that we are not saying that business should be sought for its own sake but rather to free one for the need of other people, to provide the needs of one's family and to be able to show generosity to one's brothers.  If, however, the intention is the wealth itself, collecting it and showing off with it, etc., then this is blameworthy. The contracts and transactions with which one seeks earnings should include four factors: correctness (i.e., in the Shari'a), justice, kindness and compassion for the debtor.

Correctness (As-Sihha)

If it is a contract of sale, it has three pillars: the contractee, the object of the contract and the verbage.

The Contractee. The businessman must never do business with one who is not of sound mind for he is not responsible for his actions and the contract is therefore invalid. Likewise the child (under puberty) unless his parent or guardian has authorized it.

The Object. This is the property or object which you intend to transfer. It cannot be anything unlawful such as musical instruments, intoxicants, etc. It is not lawful to sell a dog (even though it is lawful to keep one under certain limited cicumstances) because of the Prophet's (sas) explicit prohibition and because the dog is inherently najis (dirty). Also, it is not lawful to sell something which you are incapable of delivering either phsically or legally. The first is like selling something you do not have control of physically and are incapable of delivering. The second is something you cannot deliver legally such as something being held as collateral.

The Verbage. This consists of "offer" (eejaab) and "acceptance" (qubool). This can be any statements which are understood to mean an offer of sale on certain terms from one side and an agreement from the other. Sometimes it can be unspoken such as a vendor who has prices posted. A sale could consist of the customer picking up the item and handing him the money. Al-Qaadhi Abu Ya'laa said: "This is not valid except with regard to minor items." This is the best opinion on this matter and it is in line with the customs of people. Other than that, verbal offer and acceptance should not be neglected in order to minimize differences and possible disputes.

Allah has condemned riba in the harshest of terms.  He has also condemned various other transgressions with regard to business.  Among them:

• Fraud or Deception (Al-Ghish). It is haram to knowingly misrepresent the object of any contract or conceal known flaws it may have.

Ãóäøó ÑóÓõæáó Çááøóåö Õóáøóì Çááøóåõ Úóáóíúåö æóÓóáøóãó ãóÑøó Úóáóì ÕõÈúÑóÉö ØóÚóÇãò ÝóÃóÏúÎóáó íóÏóåõ ÝöíåóÇ ÝóäóÇáóÊú ÃóÕóÇÈöÚõåõ ÈóáóáðÇ ÝóÞóÇáó ãóÇ åóÐóÇ íóÇ ÕóÇÍöÈó ÇáØøóÚóÇãö ÞóÇáó ÃóÕóÇÈóÊúåõ ÇáÓøóãóÇÁõ íóÇ ÑóÓõæáó Çááøóåö ÞóÇáó ÃóÝóáóÇ ÌóÚóáúÊóåõ ÝóæúÞó ÇáØøóÚóÇãö ßóíú íóÑóÇåõ ÇáäøóÇÓõ ãóäú ÛóÔøó ÝóáóíúÓó ãöäøöí

"The Prophet (sas) passed by a mound of food (on display). He inserted his hand into it and his fingers found moisture inside. He (sas) said, "What is this, O owner of the food?"  He said, "It got rained on, O Messenger of Allah." He (sas) said, "If only you placed it on top of the pile so that people might see it. Whoever commits fraud is not of me." Muslim

• Monopoly or hoarding in order to elevate prices (Al-Ihtikaar).

ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøóåö Õóáøóì Çááøóåõ Úóáóíúåö æóÓóáøóãó ãóäú ÇÍúÊóßóÑó Ýóåõæó ÎóÇØöÆñ ÝóÞöíáó áöÓóÚöíÏò ÝóÅöäøóßó ÊóÍúÊóßöÑõ ÞóÇáó ÓóÚöíÏñ Åöäøó ãóÚúãóÑðÇ ÇáøóÐöí ßóÇäó íõÍóÏøöËõ åóÐóÇ ÇáúÍóÏöíËó ßóÇäó íóÍúÊóßöÑõ

Allah's Messenger (sas) said: "Whoever monopolizes has sinned."  It was said to Said (the narrator), "But you do this." Said said, "Ma'mar, who narrated this hadith, used to monopolize.

The answer to that is found in other hadith which make it clear that the monopoly which is forbidden is that involving necessities of the Muslims such as food. As for one who corners for example the market on diamonds or other non-essential items in order to raise the price, this is not part of the forbidden.

• Exploiting someone's lack of information. Before Islam, it was common practice for traders to go outside of the town and meet those approaching with goods for sale.  They would offer to buy all of their goods and save them the rest of their trip. The purpose was to offer them a lower price before they reached the market and got knowledge of the current state of prices. Islam forbid this practice.

In short, Allah made riba forbidden and made business (buying and selling) lawful and encouraged but warned us about the temptations and pitfalls therein.

ÎóÑóÌó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøóåö Õóáøóì Çááøóåõ Úóáóíúåö æóÓóáøóãó Åöáóì ÇáúÈóÞöíÚö ÝóÞóÇáó íóÇ ãóÚúÔóÑó ÇáÊøõÌøóÇÑö ÍóÊøóì ÅöÐóÇ ÇÔúÑóÃóÈøõæÇ ÞóÇáó ÇáÊøõÌøóÇÑõ íõÍúÔóÑõæäó íóæúãó ÇáúÞöíóÇãóÉö ÝõÌøóÇÑðÇ ÅöáøóÇ ãóäú ÇÊøóÞóì æóÈóÑøó æóÕóÏóÞó

Allah's Messenger (sas) went to Al-Baqee' (a graveyard) and said, "O traders!" until when they directed their attention to him (sas), he went on to say, "The businessmen will be resurrected on Qiyama transgressors except for he who fears Allah, is righteous an dis truthful."

ÞóÇáó ÑóÓõæáõ Çááøóåö Õóáøóì Çááøóåõ Úóáóíúåö æóÓóáøóãó Åöäøó ÇáÊøõÌøóÇÑó åõãú ÇáúÝõÌøóÇÑõ ÞóÇáó Þöíáó íóÇ ÑóÓõæáó Çááøóåö ÃóæóáóíúÓó ÞóÏú ÃóÍóáøó Çááøóåõ ÇáúÈóíúÚó ÞóÇáó Èóáóì æóáóßöäøóåõãú íõÍóÏøöËõæäó ÝóíóßúÐöÈõæäó æóíóÍúáöÝõæäó æóíóÃúËóãõæäó

Allah's Messenger (sas) said, "The businessmen are the corrupt ones." It was said, "O Allah's Messenger, did not Allah make buying and selling lawful?"  He (sas) said, "Indeed, but you speak and you lie and you swear but you sin."