ALL ABOUT PROPHET (SAL)-PART-2 - AS A TRADER

As A Trader
The commercial life of the Arabs is a known fact of history. In particular the real means of livelihood of the inhabitants of the towns of those areas where the land was dry and sandy, or of rocky dry mountains was 'trade.' Naturally, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam adopted the profession of his elders seeking merely to make "both ends meet".

The Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam has advised, " Take to trade, because out of ten divisions of livehoods, nine are in trade." The Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was not sent to mankind as a trader. Referring to this the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam has stated, " I have not been given Revelation to hoard up wealth or to be one of the tradesman."

The Almighty Allah intended that his Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam should serve as a true example of mans 'life amongst man. Thus, in order to achieve this, the blessed Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam undertook all roles and their relating works. His life was an open book to be read by all.

It is a fact of history that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam not only did his trading justly but laid the fundamental principles for just and fair trading. And the honesty, fairness and straight forwardness with which he did his business dealings with these people has become an eternal example for all business.

The Holy Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam reputation as an honest and truthful trader was well established while he was still a youth. He always showed a great sense of responsibility and integrity in dealing with people. His benevolence and strength of his word is prominently learnt from the following example: Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Abi Hamza (R.A) has reported that he entered into a transaction with Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam but, without finalizing the details, suddenly had to leave for urgent work, promising that he would soon return to settle the terms. Hadhrat Abdullah (R.A) forgot the unfinished transaction, remembering after three days he returned to the original place of transaction to find the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam still awaiting his return. No sign of annoyance could be learnt from the blessed Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam face. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said softly, "You have caused me much pain. I have been waiting for you since three days."

During the youth and manhood of the Holy Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam life, much stringency was placed upon trading which procured decent and lawful earnings. It is reported that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam has stated, " No one has ever eaten better food than he who eats as a result of the labour of his hands....." ( Part narration : Bukhari ) Hadhrat Aisha ( R.A.) reported Allah's Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam as saying, " The most desirable of things you eat come from what you earn, and your children come from what you earn." ( Tirmizi ) Lawful earnings can only be wholly accomplished through honest and faithful practices.

The Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was commonly known amongst the people of Makkah as "Al- Sadiq" (truthful) and "Al- Amin" ( faithful ). His truthful and faithful traits are found readily in numerous ahaadith.

There are many virtues for a truthful merchant. In a hadith it has been said, " The truthful and trusty merchant is associated with the Prophets, the truthful and the martyrs." ( Tirmizi ) " God shows mercy to a man whom is kind when he sells, when he buys and when he makes a claim." ( Bukhari )

Similarly, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was very particular about refraining from unlawful earnings. He forbade business in many things which themselves are unlawful and also in many forms of business because of the presence of unlawful elements.

Accordingly, to Abu Dhar (R.A), the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, " There are three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection, at whom He will not look and whom He will not purify, and they will have a punishment." Abu Dhar (R.A) said, " They are the losers and disappointed.... who are they, Messenger of Allah ?" He replied that one of them would be " he who produces a ready sale of a commodity by false swearing of Allah's name." ( Muslim) He also said, " The merchants will be raised up on the day of Resurrection as evildoers, except those who fear Allah, are honest and speak the truth."( Tirmizi and Ibn Majah )

Many sayings of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam openly condemn all the parties involved in interest transactions : Hadhrat Jabir ( R.A.) said, "Allah's Messenger cursed the one who accepted interest, the one who paid it, the one who recorded it, and the two witnesses to it, saying they were all alike." (Muslim)

Pages upon pages could be filled with the astounding conducts of the blessed Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Conclusively, study the following incident which highlights the Prophet's (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) patience and acceptance of a trying situation :
Hadhrat Ali ( R.A.) told that Allah's Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam owed some dinars to so-and-so, a Jewish doctor, who demanded payment from the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. When he told him, "I have nothing to give you, O Jew,". He replied, "I will not leave you, Muhammad, till you pay me." Allah's Messenger said, " I shall sit with you, then," and did so. Allah's Messenger prayed the noon, afternoon, sunset, night and morning prayers, and his Companions were threatening and menacing the man, Allah's Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam being aware of what they were doing. Then they said, " Messenger of Allah, is a Jew keeping you in restraint ?" To which he replied, " My Lord has prevented me from practising injustice with one whom a covenant has been made, or anyone else." Then when the day was advanced, the Jew said, "I testify that there is no diety but Allah; I testify that you are Allah's Messenger; and half of my property will be devoted to Allah's path. I swear by Allah that my only purpose in treating you as I have done was that I might consider the description of you given in the Taurah : Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, whose birth place is in Makkah, whose place of migration is in Taiba, and whose kingdom is in Syria; he is not harsh or rough, or loud voiced in the streets, and he is not characterized by coarseness or lewd speech. "I testify that there is no diety but Allah, and I testify that you are Allah's Messenger. Give a decision about this property of mine according to what Allah has shown you."

History fails to present an example of such integrity, honesty, and justice......