This topic is a vast one of which one cannot completely and adequately deal with by a paper such as this. However, an attempt shall be made to throw a good light on it. The presentation shall look at
1. Who a Muslim is?
2. What defines a Muslim businessman or what a Muslim businessman is supposed to be?
I am positive by the time these two (2) questions are attempted the subject would have been sufficiently dealt with. As Muslims our guidance in all issues are based on the Holy Qu’ran which is the direct word of Allah himself, the Suna of the Holy prophet (SAW) and his immediate Khulafas and the guidance of the promise Messiah (AS) and his Khulafas for Ahmadi business people and the world at large.
Who is a Muslim?
A simple google search says “Muslims are monotheistic and worship one all-knowing God, who in Arabic is known as Allah”. In another place it says “the word Muslim comes from the Arabic language which mean “a person who has surrendered to God”. This is achieved by uttering the creed
“Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah, Wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulu-Allah.”
“I bear witness that there is no God but God (Allah – i.e. there is none worthy of worship but Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
In the Holy Qu’ran, specifically Surah Fussilat chapter 41 verse 34 Allah says
وَمَنۡ اَحۡسَنُ قَوۡلًا مِّمَّنۡ دَعَاۤ اِلَی اللّٰہِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَّقَالَ اِنَّنِیۡ مِنَ الۡمُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۳۴﴾
The translation according to Sahih international is, “And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness” and says, “Indeed, I am of the Muslims”. In his last sermon, the Holy Prophet said “Every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood” this suggest that Muslims are all brothers and sisters and that the Umah is one and the same.
What defines a Muslim businessman?
Now let us consider who a Muslim businessperson is and how does such a person conduct his or her business affairs under the guidance of the rules and principles of Islam. The true nature of a Muslim businessperson is explained in the character and life of the Holy Prophet (SAW) who himself was an active merchant. He led caravans on many occasions from Mecca to trade in Syria and other far off places. For a Muslim to be exemplary in business they should learn from the Holy Prophet. Generally, businesspeople must be visionary, have a passion for what they do, be extremely focused at all times, always exhibit just and fairness in their dealings (Adl and Ihsan), be honest, have integrity, be philanthropic and care for your community and above all unwavering belief in God. The Holy Quran has stressed the importance of fairness in business; chapter 11 Verse 86 says:
وَیٰقَوۡمِ اَوۡفُوا الۡمِکۡیَالَ وَالۡمِیۡزَانَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ وَلَا تَبۡخَسُوا النَّاسَ اَشۡیَآءَہُمۡ وَلَا تَعۡثَوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِیۡنَ ﴿۸۶﴾ .
In translation it says “And O my people give full measure and weight justly and defraud not men of their things, and act not corruptly of the land and making mischief. What remains with Allah is better for you, if you are believers”.
In Sura Al-Nisa (4) Aayah 30, Allah say
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَاۡکُلُوۡۤا اَمۡوَالَکُمۡ بَیۡنَکُمۡ بِالۡبَاطِلِ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ تَکُوۡنَ تِجَارَۃً عَنۡ تَرَاضٍ مِّنۡکُمۡ ۟ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَکُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ کَانَ بِکُمۡ رَحِیۡمًا ﴿۳۰﴾.
Says “Oh ye who believe eat not up your property among yourselves in vanity, but let there be among you traffic and trade by mutual good will”.
In the classic Arabic language, if you look for the exact equivalent of business or commerce you will not find them. According to Islam, there is nothing wrong in fair trade and commerce. In fact, a businessperson who performs his business operations with honesty in accordance with the commands of Allah deserves to be rewarded by Allah in the life hereafter (Akhira). That is, what we do as business people, we shall be accountable for in the presence of Allah.
What is the Islamic advice for business and for that matter a businessperson?
The primary goal of running a business is to make Allah happy, this can be done by serving the people and community. Ahmadi Muslims best do this. Philanthropic activities are channeled through humanity first, a divinely guided humanitarian organization founded and run worldwide by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. Making profit and growing the business should always be a secondary goal. Muslims must be allowed to think about the community as Islam does not encourage the selfish pursuit of individual success. The question likely to arise is, “Is business Sunnah?”. In a paper article titled “ethics in doing business in Islamic law”, published in journal stidnatsir, the writer indicated that in practice doing business according to Islamic law has been carried out by the prophet Muhammed as a guide to Muslims. So doing business is the same as carrying out the Sunnah of the prophet Muhammed (SAW). In an article by Ata-ul-Haye Nasir and Jalees Ahmad in Al Hakam magazine “titled Islamic guidance of trade and business in the worlds of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud”, They cleverly extracted some key points from the guidance of the Huzoor in the starting and growing of ethical businesses as Muslims. The Duo emphasized the following points:
1. Hard work and acquiring knowledge of the trade
2. A merchant must remain informed
3. Refrain from fraud as it is a national vise.
4. Be just and honour your contracts
The article also speaks of the Huzoor’s guidance on loans and injunctions against artificially lowing of price, withholding of supplies from the market and an encouragement of Ahmadis to work hard as well as admonishing us to be hospitable whiles doing business. It is important to note that being an honest business person is an achievable foot but a difficult task. The Holy prophet of Islam in Sunan al Tirmidhi 1209 is reported by Abu Sa’id to have said “the honest and trustworthy merchant will be with prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs”. The statement above is so true but I believe people who do business are better placed to understand this saying than those who do not. Truly it is very difficult to be “squeaky clean” in business especially in a society such as ours. It is not surprising the prophet likened a “clean” business person to level of the prophets of God. This indeed is difficult but achievable task if pursued with prayers. For a Muslim businessperson to be an exemplary character in the society he has to follow the rules carefully laid out by Allah, in the Holy Quran. These rules have been reinforced by the Holy Prophet’s sayings, character and practices. The rules have further been broken down to our level by the promised Messiah and his Khulafas for easy understanding and adoption. Holy Quran chapter 53 verse 40 in Surah Al- Najm says
وَاَنۡ لَّیۡسَ لِلۡاِنۡسَانِ اِلَّا مَا سَعٰی ﴿ۙ۴۰﴾
“And that man will have nothing but what he strives for”.
May Allah guide us all in our pursuits and make the works of our hands yield results desirable to our hearts.
Peace be unto you!!!