"Say We believe in God and what is revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and I`saac and Jacob and the Tribes, and what was entrusted to Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and to Him we have surrendered."
(Quran 3: 84)
The Quran and the Hadeeth provide basic guidance
to a person indulged in Business. Let us study some of them.
Selecting Staff:
Truly the best of man for you
to employ is the (man) who is strong and trustworthy. (Al-Qur'an 28:26)
Prophet Muhammed (p.b.u.h.) adviced his followers "we do not appoint for our jobs anybody who demands it earnestly."
(Al-Bukhari I:462)
The Quran advises its believes that they should
not hire a person who is weak in understanding. His inefficiency could cause a
loss to his master.
"Do not give your
property to people of weak understanding." (Al-Qur'an 4:5)
Dealing with Staff:
Islam orders the boss and the businessman to be
kind to his juniors and servants. The statement of Quran:
"kind words and
forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury." (Al-Qur'an 2:263)
Prophet Muhammed (p.b.u.h.) treated his
subordinates in a very decent manner. Anas bin malik who was in the service of
the Prophet right from his childhood said, "The Prophet never scolded me
if I made a mistake." The Prophet never with held the wages of any
person.
(Al-Bukhari I:462)
Expenditure in Business Property:
Islam even teaches its believers, where not to
spend. Although it exhorts for generosity, it forbids in clear term,
extravagancy in expenditure. The Quran states:
"And give to the near of
kin his due and (to) the needy and the wayfarer, and do not squander (your
wealth) wastefully. Surely the squanderers are the fellows of the Shaitans and
the Shaitan is ever ungrateful to his Lord." (Al-Qur'an 17:26-7)
"Allah hates you for wasting the
wealth." (Riyyadh us Saleheen)
Be Honest in Dealing:
Islam forbids speaking lies to sell one's goods.
There are many merchants who do not give in proper measures, they mix up pebbles
with grain. Some merchant withhold grains and wait for the prices to rise, so
that they may earn more out of it. Allah and His Messenger did not allow this.
"As for those who sell
the faith, they owe to Allah and their own plighted word for a small price, they
shall have no portion in the hereafter, nor Allah will speak to them, or look at
them on the day of Qayamat." (Al-Qur'an 3:77)
"Give full measure when
you measure and weigh with a balance that is straight. That is the most fitting
and the most advantageous in the final determination." (Al-Qur'an 17:35)
"Woe to each sinful
dealer in falsehoods." (Al-Qur'an 45:7)
"Give just measures and
cause no loss (to others) by fraud and weigh with scales true and upright. And
do not withhold things justly to men." (Al-Qur'an 26:181-183)
The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said, "None
keeps goods till the price rises, but a sinner".
(Bulug-al-Maram:680)
And do not mix truth with
falsehood or conceal the truth while you know. (Al-Qur'an 2:42)
* pbuh - Peace be upon him; It is a
Muslim practise to convey prayers of peace whenever the name of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) and other prophets is taken.
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