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Prohibited Means of Production of
Wealth
-
Interest
-
Bribery
-
Usurpation of Orphan’s Property
-
Trade in Wine and Narcotics
-
Gambling and Games of Chance
-
Theft and Robbery
-
Hoarding of Essential Goods
-
Embezzlement
-
Wrong Measuring and Weighing
-
Prostitution
-
Begging
-
Miscellaneous Unfair Means
It is said that
just as man cannot destroy matter, he also cannot create matter.
What he can do is to give it utility or value by arranging or
re-arranging its particles in a particular way. Production as such
may be defined as creation of utilities and adding value to
utilities. According to Fraser, “if consuming means extracting
utility from, production means putting utility into.” Allah is
real creator. Man can merely change the forms of matter and use it
to satisfy his wants.
Land, labour,
capital and enterprise are generally regarded as factors of
production. In the economic sense, production consists of a long
chain of producers covering the industries and services like:
extracting such as mining, fishing, farming; manufacturing which
turns raw material into finished goods; commercial services such
as trade, transport, banking and insurance; and services sector
such as services of servants, employees, doctors, engineers,
lawyers, teachers.
Islamic concept of
production of wealth is very broad-based. God has created man and
knows the nature of man who loves wealth with the desire to
accumulate, possess and enjoy it. The Holy Qur’an says: “Beautiful
for mankind is love of the joys (that come) from women and
offspring, and stored-up heaps of gold and silver, and horses
branded (with their marks), and cattle and land (produce)…….”
(3 : 14)
The desire of man
for possession of wealth besides having offspring, is quite
natural. Man is fond of gold and silver and other sources of
wealth which he needs perhaps to satisfy his unending wants. He,
therefore, struggles to earn and acquire as much wealth as he can.
Islam has not discouraged man to acquire wealth. In fact, we are
told by the Qur’an, that everything of this world has been created
for the service and use of man. All the stars, the sun, the moon,
the earth, are created to serve man. The Quran says: “See ye not
how Allah hath made serviceable unto you whatsoever is in heavens
and whatsoever is in the earth and hath loaded you with His
favours both without and within?……” (31:20). These forces of
nature and also all the economic resources placed in the earth are
at the command of man who can exploit and utilize them, if he can,
for his benefit.
Man’s struggle for
acquiring wealth has also been encouraged when the Qur’an says:
“And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort, and that
his effort will be seen, And afterward he will be repaid for it
with fullest payment; -----(53 : 39-41)
In view of the
great importance of production of wealth for human survival, the
Holy Qur’an has allowed the earning of livelihood through trade
even during the pilgrimage : “It is no sin for you that ye seek
the bounty of your Lord (by trading)……” (2:198). Even on Friday,
which is commonly considered to be a Muslim Holiday, the followers
of Islam have not been restrained to pursue economic activities.
Rather they have been encouraged to resume their economic activity
on Friday after offering their congregational prayer. The Holy
Quran speaks thus: “And when the prayer is ended, then disperse in
the land and seek of Allah’s Bounty, and remember Allah much, that
ye may be successful.” -(62 : 10)
The following traditions of Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) also approve man’s struggle for earning of livelihood:
1.
The Holy Prophet said, “Acquisition of lawful
livelihood is the most important obligation after the obligation
of prayer”.
2.
The Holy Prophet is reported to have said, “When you finish the
morning prayer, don’t sleep (rest) until you have exerted yourself
for your livelihood”.
3.
The Holy Prophet once said, “There are certain sins
which can only be amended by constant struggle for economic ends”.
4.
The Holy Prophet is reported to have said: “All the
Prophets, who have gone before me, engaged themselves in hunting
and went out in search for hunting (for this was the only main
method of earning livelihood in those days). As for the problem of
prayer in congregation, it is enough for you, when absent from
congregation, that you love congregation, love the people in
congregation, love the name of God, love the people who praise God
and wish to earn lawful livelihood for your family—all these
things would suffice your absence from the congregation. You
should endeavour to acquire lawful livelihood for your family for
it is like fighting in the way of God.”
[Back
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Prohibited Means of Production of Wealth:
Thus earning of livelihood and acquiring of wealth is neither
prohibited in Islam nor it is discouraged. But the Holy Qur’an and
the Sunnah of the Prophet of Islam have laid down that wealth
should be earned through lawful (Halal) means and not through
unlawful (Haram) means. Lawful means of earning wealth have been
strongly recommended with blessings of Allah in this world and
promise of reward in the Hereafter; whereas unlawful means have
been denounced with wrath of Allah in this world and warning of
stern punishment in the Hereafter. Thus the economic system of
Islam neither allows unrestricted freedom like capitalism to
earning of wealth in whatever way the people like nor does it
chain them in control like socialism that they are prohibited to
have any individual freedom in this sphere. According to the
Qur’an and the Sunnah, all the means of earning livelihood are
allowed if they are fair, just and moral and if they are not
specifically prohibited. Unjust and unlawful means of earning
wealth have been defined and illustrated in the Qur’an and the
Sunnah. Manufacture, sale and purchase and consumption of wine and
narcotics is illegal. Interest, bribery, stealing, robbery,
embezzlement and corruption is illegal. Prostitution, music,
dancing and profession of singing is forbidden. Gambling, betting,
speculation, forward selling, games of chance are unlawful means
of earning. Business malpractices such as hoarding,
black-marketing, profiteering, monopoly, short weighing and short
measuring, adulteration, false oaths, misrepresentation, fraud,
deception, etc. are prohibited.
Let
us now discuss some of the unlawful means of earning wealth in
Islam as follows:
1-
Interest
[Back
to the start of this chapter]
Islam has
prohibited ‘Riba’ (usury or interest) and, therefore, in the
economic system based on the injunctions of the Qur’an and the
Sunnah there is no permission for earning livelihood or acquiring
wealth through interest. Some of the verses of the Quran and the
Ahadith of the Prophet of Islam which forbid interest are:
1.
Those who swallow usury cannot rise up save as he
ariseth whom the devil hath prostrated by (his) touch. That is
because they say: Trade is just like usury; whereas Allah
permitteth trading and forbiddeth usury. He unto whom an
admonition from his Lord cometh, and (he) refraineth (in obedience
thereto), he shall keep (the profits of) that which is past, and
his affair (hence-forth) is with Allah. As for him who returneth
(to usury) - such are rightful owners of the Fire. They will abide
therein. Allah hath blighted usury and made almsgiving fruitful.
Allah loveth not the impious and guilty.
-----(2 : Al-Baqarah : 275-276)
2.
O ye who believe ! Observe your duty to Allah, and
give up what remaineth (due to you) from usury, if ye are (in
truth) believers. And if ye do not, then be warned of war (against
you) from Allah and His messenger. And if ye repent, then ye have
your principal (without interest). Wrong not, and ye shall not be
wronged.
-----(2 : Al-Baqarah : 278-279)
3.
O ye who believe ! Devour not usury, doubling and
quadrupling (the sum lent). Observe your duty to Allah, that ye
may be successful.
-----(3 : Al-Imran : 130)
4. Jaber reported
that the Messenger of Allah cursed the devourer of usury, its
payer, its scribe, and its two witnesses. And he said that they
are equal (in sin).
- (Muslim)
5.
Abu Sayeed al-Khodri reported that the Messenger of
Allah said : Gold for gold, Silver for silver, wheat for wheat,
barley for barley, date for date, salt for salt and like for like
in hand to hand (transaction). Whoso gives more or takes more,
then the taker and the giver are equal in taking interest therein.
-(Muslim)
6.
Abu Sayeed al-Khodri reported that the Messenger of
Allah said : Don’t sell gold for gold unless like for like and
don’t increase something of it upon something, and don’t sell
silver for silver unless like for like and don’t increase
something of it upon something, and don’t sell the absent
therefrom for the present. In a narration : Sell not gold for
gold, nor silver for silver unless like for like.
-(Bukhari, Muslim)
7.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah
said : Usury has got seventy divisions. The easiest division of
them is a man’s marrying his mother.
-(Ibn Majah)
8.
Abu Harairah reported that the Messenger of Allah said : I came
across a people in the night in which I was taken to heaven. Their
bellies are like houses wherein there are serpents which can be
seen from outside their bellies. I asked : O Gabriel ! who are
they? He said : These are those who devoured usury.
-----(Ahmad, Ibn Majah)
Riba has not been
defined by the Quran and the Sunnah. But both have condemned and
prohibited it in the most severe possible terms. According to the
Qur’an, Riba, which is generally translated into usury, decreases
national wealth whereas Zakat increases it. Charging of Riba in
the sight of the Qur’an tantamounts to declaring of war against
Allah; while in the words of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), a dirham of
usury a man devours with knowledge is greater (in sin) than thirty
six fornications. During the times of the Prophet, Riba was not
only charged on money loans but was also charged on exchange of
commodities in barter transactions. So the Prophet prohibited Riba
in both the forms. Some modern economists have tried to
distinguish bank interest from Riba and have held that bank
interest is not prohibited. But majority of the Muslim scholars
are unanimous in holding that Riba in every form is prohibited
including bank interest.
[Back
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2-
Bribery
Bribery eats
justice and gives birth to many socio-economic evils. Islam has
not only prohibited bribery but has also condemned both the
parties to its transaction to Hell in the next world. Bribery is a
major sin and a culpable crime in an Islamic state. Therefore,
earning wealth through bribery is absolutely illegal (Haram). Let
us see what the Qur’an and the Sunnah say about it.
1.
And eat not up your property among yourselves in
vanity, nor seek by it to gain the hearing of the judges that ye
may knowingly devour a portion of the property of others
wrongfully.
-(Al-Qur’an 2 : 188)
2.
O ye who believe ! Let there be witnesses between
you when death draweth nigh unto one of you, at the time of
bequest—two witnesses, just men from among you, or two others from
another tribe in case ye are campaigning in the land and the
calamity of death befall you. Ye shall empanel them both after the
prayer, and, if ye doubt, they shall be made to swear by Allah
(saying) : We will not take a bribe, even though it were (on
behalf of) a near kinsman nor will we hide the testimony of Allah,
for then indeed we should be of the sinful.
-(Al-Qur’an 5 : 106)
3.
Abdullah-b-Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah
cursed the bribe-taker and the bride-giver.
-(Abu Daud, Ibn Majah)
4.
Abu Humaid-as-Sayidi reported: The Prophet
appointed a man of Azd tribe called Ibnul Lutbiyyah as Zakat-collector.
When he returned (to Madinah), he said: This is for you and these
are presents to me. Then the Holy Prophet delivered sermon,
praised Allah and glorified Him and said: The next thing is that I
have appointed some men among you to manage some affairs of which
Allah gave me authority. One of them comes and says : This is for
you and this is a present given to me. Why then does he not sit
down in the house of his father or in the house of his mother and
then see whether he is given presents or not? By Him in whose hand
there stands my life, nobody will take anything out of it but he
will not be brought on the Resurrection Day carrying it on his
shoulder.
-(Bukhari and Muslim)
5.
Amr-bin-Al-A’s reported: He heard the Messenger of
Allah say: There is no people among whom adultery becomes
widespread but are overtaken with famine and there is no people
among whom bribery becomes widespread but are overtaken with fear.
-(Ahmad)
[Back
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3- Usurpation of Orphan’s Property
The orphans are the
weakest and the most exploited class in human society. They are
generally the easiest targets of those near relatives and
guardians to whose care they are left. Unscrupulous persons do not
feel any moral compunction and devour the property of the orphans
with impunity. Such persons have been warned by the Qur’an and
Hadith as follows :-
Verses of the
Qur’an :
1-
Give unto
orphans their wealth. Exchange not the good for the bad (in your
management thereof) nor absorb their wealth into your own wealth.
Lo! that would be a great sin.
-(4 : 2)
2.
Prove orphans till they reach the marriageable age;
then if ye find them of sound judgement, deliver over unto them
their fortune; and devour it not by squandering and in haste lest
they should grow up. Whoso (of the guardians) is rich, let him
abstain generously (from taking of the property of orphans); and
whoso is poor, let him take thereof in reason (for his
guardianship). And when ye deliver up their fortune unto orphans,
have (the transaction) witnessed in their presence. Allah
sufficeth as a Reckoner.
-(4 : 6)
3.
Lo! Those who devour the wealth of orphans
wrongfully, they do but swallow fire into their bellies and they
will be exposed to burning flame.
-(4 : 9-10)
4.
And approach not the wealth of the orphan save with
that which is better, till he reach maturity. Give full measure
and full weight, in justice. We task not any soul beyond its
scope.
-(6 : 152)
5.
Come not near the wealth of the orphan save with
that which is better till he come to strength, and keep the
covenant. Lo! of the covenant it will be asked.
-(17 : 34)
Ahadith of the
Prophet :
1.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: The best
home of Muslim is one wherein there is an orphan who is treated
well; and the worst home of Muslims is one wherein there is an
orphan who is treated badly.
-(Ibn Majah)
2.
Amr-b-Shuaib from his father from his grandfather
reported that the Messenger of Allah addressed the people and
said: Beware! Whoever is entrusted with an orphan having property,
let him make merchandise therewith, and let him not leave it till
Zakat eats it up.
-(Abu Daud, Tirmizi)
[Back
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4- Trade in Wine and Narcotics
Wine-drinking has
been prohibited by the Qur’an and denounced as a great sin. The
Prophet of Islam has declared manufacture, purchase, sale and
transportation of wine illegal and unlawful. According to the
Prophet, every intoxicant is unlawful (Haram) and thus, by
implication, consumption of and trade in narcotics, wine, opium,
heroin, etc is illegal. Therefore, income generated through
transactions connected with narcotics is forbidden. The verses of
the Quran and Ahadith of the Prophet which prohibit wine are as
follows:
Verses of the
Quran:
1.
They question thee about strong drink, and games of chance. Say:
In both is great sin, and (some) utility for men; but the sin of
them is greater than their usefulness.
-(2 : 219)
2.
O ye who believe! Strong drink and games of chance
and idols and divining arrows are only an infamy of Satan’s
handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed. Satan
seeketh only to cast among you enmity and hatred by means of
strong drink and games of chance, and to turn you from remembrance
of Allah and from (His) worship. Will ye then have done?
-(5 : 90-91)
Traditions of
Muhammad (PBUH):
1.
Anas reported that the Prophet cursed ten about wine-one who
squeezes it, one who is engaged for squeezing it, one who drinks
it, one who carries it, one to whom it is carried, one who gives
it to drink, one who sells it, one who devours its price, one who
purchases it and one from whom it is purchased.
-(Tirmizi, Ibn Majah)
2.
Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying,
‘Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is forbidden.”.
-(Muslim)
3.
We’il al-Hadrami said that Tariq b. Suwaid asked
the Prophet about wine and he forbade him. When he told him that
he made it only as a medicine he replied, “It is not a medicine,
but is a disease.”
-(Muslim)
4.
Dailamah al-Humairi reported: I asked: O Messenger
of Allah, verily we are in cold land, and we are to do hard works
therein, and we prepare wine from this wheat which gives us
strength in our works and in the chill of our cities. He said Does
it intoxicate? ‘Yes’ said I, He said: Give it up. I said: Verily
the people can not give it up. He said: If they do not give it up,
fight with them.
-(Abu Daud)
5.
Abdullah-bin-Amr reported that the Messenger of
Allah prohibited intoxicants, games of chance, card-playing and
Gobairah and he said: Every intoxicant is unlawful.
-(Abu Daud)
6.
Abu Said Al-Khudri said he had wine belonging to an
orphan, and when Al-Ma’idah came down, he asked Allah’s Messenger
about it, telling him it belonged to an orphan, but he said, “Pour
it away”. (Tirmizi). And Anas asked the Prophet about orphans who
had inherited wine and whether he might not make vinegar of it,
and he told him he must not.
-(Abu Daud)
[Back
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5- Gambling and Games of Chance
Earnings through
gambling and games of chance have been strictly prohibited by
Islam as Haram (unlawful). Following are relevant verses of the
Qur’an and Ahadith of the Prophet:
1.
They question thee about strong drink, and games of
chance. Say: In both is great sin, and (some) utility for men; but
the sin of them is greater than their usefulness………
-(Al-Quran 2:219)
2.
O ye who believe! Strong drink and games of chance
and idols and divining arrows are only an infamy of Satan’s
handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed. Satan
seeketh only to cast among you enmity and hatred by means of
strong drink and games of chance, and to turn you from remembrance
of Allah and from (His) worship. Will ye then have done?
-(Al-Qur’an 5:90-91)
3.
Abdullah-bin-Amr reported that the messenger of
Allah prohibited intoxicants, games of chance, card playing and
Gobairah……..
-(Abu Daud)
4.
Abdullah-bin-Amr told that the Prophet (PBUH)
forbade wine (Khamr), game of chance (Maisir), drum (Kubah) and
wine made from millet (Ghubairah) saying: Every intoxicant is
forbidden.
-(Abu Daud)
The word used by
the Qur’an for gambling is ‘maisir’ which literally means ‘getting
something too easily’ or ‘getting a profit without working for
it’. Originally, it stood for a game or play with unfeathered or
headless arrows. Gambling can briefly be defined as wagering money
or other valuable things upon the outcome of an event or making
money upon some chance. Thus it is a game of chance by which you
either win or lose. The evil of gambling is in vogue since the
time immemorial. According to a writer: ‘Games of chance’ are as
old and as wide-spread as humanity…....
The extent to which
gambling prevails in the modern world is difficult to assess. Most
of it is centred in the horse racing. Dice and wagering are
rightly included in the definition of gambling. Modern form of
gambling are lottery, betting, cross-word puzzles, card-playing
(with bets), prize schemes, etc.
Gambling and all
games of chance have been strictly prohibited by the Qur’an.
According to the Qur’an, gambling, as wine-drinking, is devil’s
handiwork through which he seeks to cast enmity among the people
and turns them away from remembrance of God.
[Back
to the start of this chapter]
6- Theft and Robbery
Earning livelihood
and acquisition of wealth through theft and robbery has again been
declared unlawful and illegal by Islam. The Qur’an has declared
theft and robbery major offences, the former to be punished with
amputation of hands while the latter to be punished, like
rebellion, with death or with amputation of hands and feet or with
banishment. The relevant verses of the Qur’an and Ahadith of the
Prophet on this subject are:
The Verses of
the Qur’an:
1. As for the
thief, both male and female, cut off their hands. It is the reward
of their own deeds: an exemplary punishment from Allah. Allah is
Mighty, Wise. But whoso repenteth after his wrongdoing and
amendeth, Lo! Allah will relent toward him. Lo! Allah is
Forgiving, Merciful.
-(5:38-39)
2.
Lurk not on every road to threaten (wayfarers), and
to turn away from Allah’s path him who believeth in Him, and to
seek to make it crooked. And remember, when ye were but few, how
he did multiply you. And see the nature of the consequence for the
corrupters!
-(7:86)
3.
O Prophet ! If believing women come unto thee,
taking oath of allegiance unto thee that they will ascribe nothing
as partner unto Allah, and will neither steal nor commit adultery
nor kill their children, nor produce any lie that they have
devised between their hands and feet, nor disobey thee in what is
right then accept their allegiance and ask Allah to forgive them.
Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
-(60:12)
Ahadith of
Muhammad (PBUH):
1. Ibn Omar
reported that the Prophet cut off the hand of a thief for a
shield, price of which was three dirhams.
-(Bukhari and Muslim)
2.
Rafe-b-Khadiz reported from the Prophet who said:
There is no cutting for (theft of) ripe fruits and white dates.
-(Abu Daud, Nisai, Malek, Tirmizi)
3.
Amr Ibn Shu’aib, on his father’s authority, said
that Allah’s Messenger was asked about hanging fruit and he said,
“If a needy person takes some and does not take a supply in his
garment, he is not to be blamed, but he who carries any of it away
is to be fined twice the value and punished, and he who steals any
of it after it has been put in the place where dates are dried is
to have his hand cut off if their value reaches the price of a
shield.”
-(Nisai and Abu Daud).
The term ‘theft’
has neither been defined by the Qur’an nor by the Sunnah. In the
common parlance, theft denotes to the act of depriving a person of
his property dishonestly, stealthily and illegally. It is, thus,
an act of taking other’s property without any lawful claim to it.
Protection of property is one of the fundamental rights of a
citizen and the state is duty-bound to safeguard it from the
encroachments of others. A thief is a person who not only
infringes the right of a citizen with regard to his property but
also deprives him permanently of his hard-earned belonging. The
thief is a menace to peaceful society and is looked upon with
terror. The Qur’an has prescribed very severe punishment of
cutting off the hands of a thief to make him an example for others
and thus create a deterrent effect.
[Back
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7- Hoarding of Essential Goods
Business of
monopoly and hoarding of necessities of life has been condemned by
Islam. Especially holding back or storing up of food grains,
eatables and other articles of daily use for getting higher prices
in times of scarcity and crises is absolutely unlawful (Haram). In
times of scarcity and non-availability of food items, hoarding of
such items becomes the worst type of human exploitation and hence
a major crime and a great sin. Making undue profits from such
business of exploitation and blackmail is illegal. Following are
the verses of the Qur’an and Ahadith of the Prophet of Islam which
pronounce Islamic view-point on this illegal business:
1. And let not
those who hoard up that which Allah, hath bestowed upon them of
His bounty think that it is better for them. Nay, it is worse for
them. That which they hoard will be their collar on the Day of
Resurrection.
-(Al-Quran 3:180)
2.
Ibn Omar reported that the Messenger of Allah said:
Whoever stores up food-grains for forty days, intending thereby a
dear price, becomes free from Allah and Allah is free from him.
-(Razin)
3.
Abu Omamah reported that the Messenger of Allah
said : Whoso stores up food grain for forty days, and then gives
it in charity, it will not be an expiation for his sins.
-(Razin)
4.
Me-mar reported that the Messenger of Allah said:
Whoever monopolises is a sinner.
-(Muslim)
5.
Omar reported from the Messenger of Allah who said:
Bringer of food-grains (to a city) is given provision, and the
monopoliser is cursed.
-(Ibn Majah, Darimi)
6.
Omar-bin’ al-Khattab reported: I heard the
Messenger of Allah say: Whoever monopolise over the Muslims their
food-grains, Allah will inflict them with epidemics and
bankruptcy.
-(Ibn Majah)
[Back
to the start of this chapter]
8- Embezzlement
Embezzlement means
betraying of trust and unlawfully appropriating property belonging
to others. Acquisition of wealth through embezzlement of public
money or individual’s property has been strictly forbidden to a
believer in Islam. Quranic injunctions regarding embezzlement are:
1.
If ye be on a journey and cannot find a scribe,
then a pledge in hand (shall suffice). And if one of you
entrusteth to another let him who is trusted deliver up that which
is entrusted to him (according to the pact between them) and let
him observe his duty to Allah. Hide not testimony. He who hideth
it, verily his heart is sinful. Allah is Aware of what ye do.
--(2:283)
2.
Among the People of the Scripture there is he who,
if thou trust him with a weight of treasure, will return it to
thee. And among them there is he who, if thou trust him with a
piece of gold, will not return it to thee unless thou keep
standing over him. That is because they say: We have no duty to
the Gentiles. They speak a lie concerning Allah knowingly.
-(3:75)
3.
Lo! Allah commandeth you that ye restore deposits
to their owners, and, if ye judge between mankind, that ye judge
justly. Lo! comely is this, which Allah admonisheth you. Lo! Allah
is ever Hearer, Seer.
-(4:58)
4.
O ye who believe! Betray not Allah and His
messenger, nor knowingly betray your trusts.
-(8:27)
[Back
to the start of this chapter]
9- Wrong Measuring and Weighing
Business
malpractices such as wrong measuring and wrong weighing have been
very common in the nations of old as of today. This device of
spurious weights and measures is adopted by unscrupulous traders
to harm the interests of customers and earn undue profits. The
practice of short measuring and short weighing while giving and
over-measuring and over-weighing while taking has been condemned
by the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet of Islam. The relevant
verses of the Qur’an and Ahadith are:
Quranic Verses:
1.
And approach not the wealth of the orphan save with that which is
better, till he reach maturity. Give full measure and full weight,
in justice. We task not any soul beyond its scope.
-(6:152)
2.
And unto Midian (We sent) their brother Shu’eyb. He
said: O my people! Serve Allah. Ye have no other God save Him! And
give not short measure and short weight. Lo! I see you well-to-do,
and Lo! I fear for you the doom of a besetting Day. O my people!
Give full measure and full weight in justice, and wrong not people
in respect of their goods. And do not evil in the earth causing
corruption.
-(11:84-85)
3.
Fill the measure when ye measure and weigh with a
right balance; that is meet, and better in the end.
-(17:35)
4.
Give full measure, and be not of those who give
less (than the due). And weigh with the true balance. Wrong not
mankind in their goods, and do not evil, making mischief, in the
earth.
-(26:181-183)
5.
That ye exceed not the measure. But observe the
measure strictly, nor fall short thereof.
-(55:8-9)
6.
Woe unto the defrauders: Those who when they take
the measure from mankind demand it full, But if they measure unto
them or weigh for them, they cause them loss. Do such (men) not
consider that they will be raised again. Unto an awful Day: The
day when (all) mankind stand before the Lord of the Worlds?
-(83:1-6)
Ahadith of the
Prophet:
1.
Ibn Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah said to the owners
of measurement and weight: You have been certainly entrusted with
two affairs about which the former nations before you were
destroyed.
-(Tirmizi)
2.
Ibn Abbas reported: Treachery does not appear in a
nation but Allah throws fear into their hearts, nor fornication
becomes wide-spread in a nation but death becomes frequent in
them, nor does a nation decrease weight and measure but provision
is cut off from them, nor does a nation pass order unjustly but
murder becomes prevalent among them, nor do a nation break a
treaty but the enemy becomes powerful over them.
-(Malek)
3.
Suwaid-bin-Qais reported: I and the slave Makhrafah
brought cloth from Hajr and came therewith to Makkah. Then the
Messenger of Allah came to us walking. He bargained with us for
cloth and we sold to him. A man there was measuring with weight
up. The Holy Prophet said to him: Measure and weigh down.
-(Ahmad, Abu Daud, Tirmizi)
Earning livelihood
or acquiring wealth through such like business malpractices is
unlawful (Haram). The Prophet of Islam, as the above mentioned
traditions show, was very strict regarding weights and measures
which are great trust. Every follower of him is, therefore,
obliged to adopt standard weights and measures and use the same
both for purchasing and selling commodities.
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10- Prostitution
Fornication and
adultery have been banned by Islam and declared a major crime in
an Islamic state. Therefore, earning income from prostitution and
adultery is strongly prohibited. By implication, all professions
and vocations which directly or indirectly promote adultery in
society such as obscenity, pornography, blue films and sex-songs
become unlawful (Haram). The verses of the Qur’an and Ahadith of
the Prophet of Islam concerning prostitution and adultery are:
Verses of the
Qur’an:
1.
And come not near unto adultery. Lo! it is an abomination and an
evil way.
-(17:32)
2.
The adulterer and the adulteress, scourge ye each
one of them (with) a hundred stripes…….
-(24:2)
3.
……… Force not your slave girls to whoredom that ye
may seek enjoyment of the life of the world, if they would
preserve their chastity. And if one force them, then (unto them),
after their compulsion, Lo! Allah will be Forgiving, Merciful.
-(24:33)
Traditions of
Muhammad (PBUH):
1.
Abu Huzaifah reported that the Holy Prophet prohibited price of
blood, price of dogs and earnings of a prostitute. And he cursed
the devourer of usury and its giver, the tattooer and the tattooed
and the painter (of life-pictures).
-(Bukhari)
2.
Jaber reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah
say in the Year of Victory while he was at Makkah: Verily Allah
and His Messenger forbade the sale of wine, dead animals, pigs and
idols. He was questioned: O Messenger of Allah! Inform about fat
of dead and verily boats are smeared therewith, skins are oiled
therewith and people prepare light therewith. “No” he said, “It is
unlawful.” He said at that time: May Allah destroy the Jews! When
Allah made their fats unlawful, they took fancy to them. Then they
sold them and devoured their price.
-(Bukhari and Muslim)
3.
Rafe-bin-Khadiz reported that the Messenger of
Allah said: Price of dog is impure, earning of a prostitute is
impure, and earning of a cupper is impure.
-(Muslim)
4.
Abu Mas’ud Al Ansari reported that the Messenger of
Allah forbade the price of dogs, earnings of prostitutes and
fore-telling of a sooth-sayer.
-(Bukhari, Muslim)
5.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah
prohibited the price of dogs and earnings of singing girls.
-(Sharhi Sunnat)
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11-
Begging
Begging is a curse
for humanity and is below one’s dignity and self-respect. Begging
tantamounts to lack of trust in God and lack of confidence in
one’s ability to earn through hard work. Begging is, therefore,
unlawful in an Islamic state and adoption of it as a profession is
strictly prohibited. The view-point of the Qur’an and that of the
Sunnah is reflected below by the verses of the Holy Book and
Ahadith of Muhammad (PBUH):
1.
(Alms are) for the poor who are straitened for the
cause of Allah, who cannot travel in the land (for trade). The
unthinking men accounteth them wealthy because of their restraint.
Thou shalt know them by their mark: They do not beg of men with
importunity. And whatsoever good thing ye spend, Lo! Allah knoweth
it.
-(Al-Quran 2:273)
2. Zubair-b-Awam
reported that the Messenger of Allah said: That one of you takes
his rope and then comes with a load of wood upon his back and
sells it is better than to beg of men whether they give or reject
him.
-(Bukhari)
3.
Qabisah-bin-Maknareq reported : I became surety for a debt and
came to the Messenger of Allah to ask him about it. He said: Wait
till Zakat comes to us, and then we shall order something
therefrom for you. Then he said: O dear Qabisah! Surely begging is
not lawful except for one of these three (reasons)-a
man who becomes surety for a debt, it then becomes lawful for him
to beg till he gets it, after which he shall withhold; a man
having met with a misfortune which has ruined his property-it is
lawful for him to beg till it enables him to get livelihood (or he
said means of livelihood); and a man who meets with dire
necessity, till three men of understanding of his tribe stand up
(and say): Dire necessity afflicted such one-it is lawful for him
to beg till he finds means for livelihood. O Qabisah ! what is
besides these in begging is unlawful and its owner eats unlawful
things.
-(Muslim)
4.
Abdullah-bin-Omar reported that the Messenger of
Allah said: Man will continue to beg of men till he will come on
the Resurrection Day without any piece of flesh in his face.
-(Bukhari, Muslim)
5.
Ibn Omar reported that the Holy Prophet said while
he was on the pulpit speaking about charity and refraining from
begging. The upper hand is better than the lower, and the upper
hand is that which gives and the lower is that which begs.
-(Bukhari, Muslim)
6.
Samorah-bin-Jundub reported that the Messenger of
Allah said: Begging are scratches with which a man scratches his
own face. So whoever likes may make them permanent upon his face,
and whoever likes may avoid them-except a man’s begging to a man
of power or in an affair from which there is no escape.
-(Abu Daud, Tirmizi, Nisai)
7.
Sahl-bin-Hanjaliyyah reported that the Messenger of
Allah said: Whoever begs while he has got sufficient means begs of
Hell-fire. Nufali who was one of its narrators in another place
asked: And who is a solvent man for whom begging is unlawful? He
(Prophet) said: He who has means which give him food morning and
night. He said in another place: He who has food for a day or for
a night and a day.
-(Abu Daud)
8.
Hubshi-bin-Junadah reported that the Messenger of
Allah said: Begging is not lawful for the solvent, nor for one who
is stout and strong except for one who has got pressing poverty or
destroying debt. And whoso begs of men to increase his wealth will
have scratches on his face on the Resurrection Day, and hot stone
of Hell which he will devour.
-(Tirmizi)
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12- Miscellaneous Unfair Means
Islam has
prohibited earning of income through profession of singing and
dancing. Income of a magician, soothsayer, foreteller and a
painter of life portraits is also unlawful. Earning of income
through unfair trade practices like fraud, deception,
misrepresentation, sale of defective things or the things which
are yet not in possession of the seller is strictly prohibited.
Speculation and forward transactions are also un-Islamic. Relevant
verses of the Quran and Ahadith are reproduced as follows :
Verses of the
Qur’an:
1. O ye who
believe! Squander not your wealth among yourselves in vanity,
except it be a trade by mutual consent, and kill not yourselves.
Lo! Allah is ever Merciful unto you.
-----(4:An-Nisa:29)
2.
And of their taking usury when they were forbidden
it, and of their devouring people’s wealth by false pretences. We
have prepared for those of them who disbelieve a painful doom.
-----(4:An-Nisa:161)
3.
And thou seest many of them vying one with another
in sin and transgression and their devouring of illicit gain.
Verily evil is what they do. Why do not the rabbis and the priests
forbid their evilspeaking and their devouring of illicit gain?
Verily evil is their handiwork.
-----(5:Al-Ma’idah:62-63)
Ahadith of
Muhammad (PBUH):
1. Jaber reported
that the Messenger of Allah forbade Mukhabarah, Muhaqalah and
Muzabanah. Muhaqalah is a man’s selling corn for one hundred Farq
of wheat, and Muzabanah is to sell dry dates upon the heads of
date trees for one hundred Farq. And Mukhabarah is to let out land
for one-third or one-forth (of produce).
-(Muslim)
2.
Abu Qatada reported that the Messenger of Allah
said: Be careful of excessive swearing in sale, because it finds
market but then reduces (blessing).
-(Muslim)
3.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Holy Prophet forbade
the sale by stone-throwing and the sale of unpossessed thing.
-(Muslim)
4.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Holy Prophet passed
by a heap of corns. He thrust his hand therein but his fingers
touched moisture. He asked, O owner of corn! What is this? He
replied: Rain fell on it, O Messenger of Allah. He enquired: Have
you not done so over the corn so that people may see it? Whoso
acts with deceit is not of me.
---(Muslim)
5.
Ali reported that the Messenger of Allah forbade
the (forced) purchase from a needy person, and purchase from the
inconsiderate and purchase of fruit before it reaches maturity.
-(Abu Daud)
6.
Waselah-b-Asqa’s reported: I heard the Messenger of
Allah say: Whoso sells a defective thing without disclosing it
continues to be in the wrath of Allah .......
--(Ibn Majah)
7.
Abu Huzaifah reported that the Holy Prophet
prohibited price of blood, price of dogs and earnings of a
prostitute. And he cursed the devourer of usury and its giver, the
tattooer and the tattooed and the painter (of life-pictures).
-(Bukhari)
8.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah
prohibited the price of dogs and earnings of singing girls.
-(Sharhi Sunnat)
9.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah
said: Verily Allah is pure. He does not accept but what is pure.
And verily Allah ordered the believers with which He ordered the
Prophets. He said: O Prophets! Eat of the pure things and do good
deeds. And He said: Eat of the pure things with which We provided
you. Then he mentioned about a man dishevelled in hair and laden
with dust, making his journey long and extending his hand towards
heaven: O Lord ! O Lord ! while his food was unlawful, his drink
unlawful, his dress unlawful and he was nourished with unlawful
things. How can he be responded to for that?
-(Muslim)
10.
Nu’man-bin-Bashir reported that the Messenger of
Allah said: Lawful things are manifest and unlawful things are
also manifest, and between the two are the doubtful things which
many people do not know. Whoso guards against the doubtful things,
he makes his religion and honour pure; and whoso falls in the
doubtful things, falls in unlawful things like a shepherd who
grazes his flock round a reserved pasture ground and doubts
grazing therein. Behold ! there is a reserved meadow for
everything. Behold the reserved meadow of Allah is His forbidden
things. Behold ! there is a piece of flesh in the body. When it is
sound, the whole body is sound, and when it is unsound, the whole
body becomes unsound. Behold ! it is the heart.
-(Bukhari, Muslim)
11.
Ayesha reported that Abu Bakr had a slave who
realised rent for him, and Abu Bakr used to enjoy it. One day he
came with a thing, and Abu Bakr enjoyed there from. Then the slave
said: Do you know what it is? Abu Bakr enquired: What it is? What
is it? He said: I used to foretell for a man in the Days of
Ignorance, but I did not make good the foretelling, except that I
only deceived him. He met me and paid me for that. So this is what
you enjoyed. She said that Abu Bakr then thrust his hand (into his
mouth) and vomited everything in his belly.
-(Bukhari)
12.
Jaber reported that the Messenger of Allah said: No
flesh which has grown out of unlawful things has got better claim
to Hell-fire.
-(Ahmad, Darimi, Baihaqi)
13.
Abu Bakr reported that the Messenger of Allah said:
A body which has been nourished by unlawful thing shall not enter
Paradise.
-(Baihaqi)
14.
Ibn Omar reported: Whoso purchases a cloth with ten
dirhams wherein one dirham is unlawful, the Almighty Allah shall
not accept his prayer so long as it will last upon him. Afterwards
he entered his fingers into his ears and said: Be deaf. Would that
I had not heard the Holy Prophet say (it) !
-(Ahmad,
Baihaqi)
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