11. Business Transactions

عَن الْمِقْدَاد بْنِ مَعْدِي كَرِبَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا أَكَلَ أَحَدٌ طَعَامًا قَطُّ خَيْرًا مِنْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدَيْهِ وَإِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ كَانَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ عمل يَدَيْهِ» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Al-Miqdam b. Ma'dikarib reported God's Messenger as saying, “No one has ever eaten better food than what he eats as a result of the labour of his hands. God’s prophet David used to eat from what he had worked for with his hands.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا طَيِّبًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَ المؤْمنينَ بِمَا أمرَ بِهِ المرسَلينَ فَقَالَ: (يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ واعْمَلوا صَالحا) وَقَالَ: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ) ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ: يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ وَغُذِّيَ بِالْحَرَامِ فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِكَ؟ ". رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

God is good and accepts only what is good, and He has given the same command to the believers as He has given to the Messengers, saying, “0 Messengers, eat of what is good and act righteously” (Al-Qur’an 23:51) and also, “You who believe, eat of the good things which We have provided for you” (Al-Qur’an 2:172). Then he mentioned a man who makes a long journey in a dishevelled and dusty state, who stretches out his hands to heaven saying, “My Lord, my Lord,” when his food, drink and clothing are of an unlawful nature, and he is nourished by what is unlawful, and asked how such a one could be given an answer. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لَا يُبَالِي الْمَرْءُ مَا أَخَذَ مِنْهُ أَمِنَ الْحَلَالِ أم من الْحَرَام» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

He reported God's Messenger as saying, “A time will come to mankind when a man will not care whether what he gets comes from a lawful or an unlawful source.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْحَلَالُ بَيِّنٌ وَالْحَرَامُ بَيِّنٌ وَبَيْنَهُمَا مُشْتَبِهَاتٌ لَا يَعْلَمُهُنَّ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَمَنِ اتَّقَى الشبهاب استبرَأَ لدِينهِ وعِرْضِهِ ومَنْ وقَعَ فِي الشبُّهَاتِ وَقَعَ فِي الْحَرَامِ كَالرَّاعِي يَرْعَى حَوْلَ الْحِمَى يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَرْتَعَ فِيهِ أَلَا وَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ مَلِكٍ حِمًى أَلَا وَإِنَّ حِمَى اللَّهِ مَحَارِمُهُ أَلَا وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إِذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُله أَلا وَهِي الْقلب»

An-Nu'man b. Bashir reported God's Messenger as saying, “What is lawful is clear and what is unlawful is clear, but between them are certain doubtful things which many people do not recognize. He who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and his honour blameless, but he who falls into doubtful things falls into what is unlawful, just as a shepherd who pastures his animals round a preserve will soon pasture them in it. Every king has a preserve, and God’s preserve is the things He has declared unlawful. In the body there is a piece of flesh, and the whole body is sound if it is sound, but the whole body is corrupt if it is corrupt. It is the heart.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «ثَمَنُ الْكَلْبِ خَبِيثٌ وَمَهْرُ الْبَغِيِّ خَبِيثٌ وَكَسْبُ الْحَجَّامِ خَبِيثٌ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Rafi' b. Khadij reported God’s Messenger as saying, "The price paid for a dog is impure, the hire paid to a prostitute is impure, and the earnings of a cupper are impure.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى عَنْ ثَمَنِ الْكَلْبِ وَمَهْرِ الْبَغِيِّ وَحُلْوَانِ الْكَاهِنِ

Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari said that God’s Messenger forbade the price paid for a dog, the hire paid to a prostitute, and the gift given to a soothsayer. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَن أبي حجيفة أَنَّ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى عَنْ ثَمَنِ الدَّمِ وَثَمَنِ الْكَلْبِ وَكَسْبِ الْبَغِيِّ وَلَعَنَ آكِلَ الرِّبَا وَمُوكِلَهُ وَالْوَاشِمَةَ وَالْمُسْتَوْشِمَةَ وَالْمُصَوِّرَ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Aba Juhaifa said that the Prophet forbade the price paid for blood1, the price paid for a dog, and the earnings of a prostitute, and cursed him who accepted and him who paid usury, him who tattooed and him who had himself tattooed, and the sculptor2. Bukhari transmitted it. 1. This refers to the blood of an animal. 2. Musawwir. The meaning is more comprehensive than any English word. It also means “painter”, or anyone who produces representations of living beings.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ عَامَ الْفَتْحِ وَهُوَ بِمَكَّةَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ حَرَّمَ بَيْعَ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْتَةِ وَالْخِنْزِيرِ وَالْأَصْنَامِ» . فَقِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ شُحُومَ الْمَيْتَةِ؟ فَإِنَّهُ تُطْلَى بِهَا السُّفُنُ وَيُدْهَنُ بِهَا الْجُلُودُ وَيَسْتَصْبِحُ بِهَا النَّاسُ؟ فَقَالَ: «لَا هُوَ حَرَامٌ» . ثُمَّ قَالَ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ: «قَاتَلَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَّا حَرَّمَ شُحُومَهَا أَجْمَلُوهُ ثُمَّ بَاعُوهُ فَأَكَلُوا ثَمَنَهُ»

Jabir said he heard God’s Messenger say in the year of the Conquest when he was in Mecca, "God and His Messenger have declared forbidden the sale of wine, animals which have died a natural death, swine and idols.” He was asked what he thought of the fat of animals which had died a natural death, for it was used for caulking ships, greasing skins, and making oil for lamps, and after saying that it was unlawful he added, "God curse the Jews! When He declared the fat of such animals unlawful they melted it, then sold it and enjoyed the price they received. “ (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم قَالَ: «قَاتَلَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّحُومُ فجملوها فَبَاعُوهَا»

‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, "God curse the Jews! Fats were declared unlawful for them, but they melted them and sold them.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى عَنْ ثَمَنِ الْكَلْبِ وَالسِّنَّوْرِ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Jabir said the God’s Messenger forbade payment for dogs and cats. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: حَجَمَ أَبُو طَيْبَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأُمِرَ لَهُ بِصَاعٍ مِنْ تَمْرٍ وَأَمَرَ أَهْلَهُ أَنْ يُخَفِّفُوا عَنْهُ مِنْ خراجه

Anas said that Abu Taiba cupped God’s Messenger and he ordered that sa’ of dates be given him, also ordering his people to remit some of his dues.* * Abu Taiba was a client of the B. Haritha. It was the custom for a slave to hand over to his master part of what he earned. Here the Prophet suggests that the masters of Abu Taiba should reduce the amount they took from him. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلْتُمْ مِنْ كَسْبِكُمْ وَإِنَّ أَوْلَادَكُمْ مِنْ كَسْبِكُمْ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ. وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي دَاوُدَ وَالدَّارِمِيِّ: «إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ مَا أَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ كَسْبِهِ وَإِنَّ وَلَده من كَسبه»

the children are the result of marriage, and parents who are in need may receive support from their children.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا يكْسب عبد مَال حرَام فتيصدق مِنْهُ فَيُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ وَلَا يُنْفِقُ مِنْهُ فَيُبَارَكُ لَهُ فِيهِ وَلَا يَتْرُكُهُ خَلْفَ ظَهْرِهِ إِلَّا كَانَ زَادَهُ إِلَى النَّارِ. إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَمْحُو السَّيِّئَ بِالسَّيِّئِ وَلَكِنْ يَمْحُو السَّيِّئَ بِالْحَسَنِ إِنَّ الْخَبِيثَ لَا يَمْحُو الْخَبِيثَ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَكَذَا فِي شرح السّنة

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No man who acquires unlawful property and gives some of it in alms will have it accepted from him; neither will he receive a blessing for it if he con-tributes some of it; and if he leaves some of it behind him (i.e. when he dies) it will be his provision for hell. God does not obliterate an evil deed by an evil one, but He obliterates an evil deed by a good one. What is impure does not obliterate what is impure.” Ahmad transmitted it, and the same is given in Sharh as-sunna.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ لَحْمٌ نبَتَ منَ السُّحْتِ وكلُّ لحمٍ نبَتَ منَ السُّحْتِ كَانَتِ النَّارُ أَوْلَى بِهِ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ وَالْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Flesh which has grown out of what is unlawful will not enter paradise*, but hell is more fitting for all flesh which has grown out of what is unlawful.” Ahmad, Darimi, and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it. *The reference here is to people who live on unlawful source of income.

وَعَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: حَفِظْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «دَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لَا يَرِيبُكَ فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ طُمَأْنِينَةٌ وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ رِيبَةٌ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَرَوَى الدَّارِمِيُّ الْفَصْل الأول

I have retained in my memory these words of God's Messenger, “Leave what causes you doubt and turn to what does not cause you doubt. Truth is tranquility, but falsehood is doubt.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted the first part.

وَعَن وابصَةَ بن مَعْبدٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «يَا وَابِصَةُ جِئْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنِ الْبِرِّ وَالْإِثْمِ؟» قُلْتُ: نَعَمْ قَالَ: فَجَمَعَ أَصَابِعَهُ فَضَرَبَ صَدْرَهُ وَقَالَ: «اسْتَفْتِ نَفْسَكَ اسْتَفْتِ قَلْبَكَ» ثَلَاثًا «الْبِرُّ مَا اطْمَأَنَّتْ إِلَيْهِ النَّفْسُ وَاطْمَأَنَّ إِلَيْهِ الْقَلْبُ وَالْإِثْمُ مَا حَاكَ فِي النَّفْسِ وَتَرَدَّدَ فِي الصَّدْرِ وَإِنْ أَفْتَاكَ النَّاسُ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ والدارمي

Wabisa b. Ma'bad reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Have you come to ask about righteousness and sin, Wabisa?” When he replied that he had, he joined his fingers and striking his breast with them said, “Ask yourself for a decision, ask your heart for a decision (saying it three times). Righteousness is that with which the soul is tranquil and the heart is tranquil, but sin is that which rouses suspicion in the soul and is perplexing in the breast, even if people give you a decision in its favour.” Ahmad and Darimi transmitted it.

وَعَن عطيَّةَ السَّعدِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَبْلُغُ الْعَبْدُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنَ المتَّقينَ حَتَّى يدَعَ مَا لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ حَذَرًا لِمَا بِهِ بأسٌ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وابنُ مَاجَه

'Atiya as-Sa'di reported God's Messenger as saying, "No one will attain to being one of the pious till he abandons things which are harmless through being on his guard against what is harmful." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْخَمْرِ عَشَرَةً: عَاصِرَهَا وَمُعْتَصِرَهَا وَشَارِبَهَا وَحَامِلَهَا وَالْمَحْمُولَةَ إِلَيْهِ وَسَاقِيَهَا وَبَائِعَهَا وَآكِلَ ثَمَنِهَا وَالْمُشْتَرِي لَهَا وَالْمُشْتَرَى لَهُ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه

the wine-presser, the one who has it pressed, the one who drinks it, the one who conveys it, the one to whom it is conveyed, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who benefits from the price paid for it, the one who buys it, and the one for whom it is bought. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْخَمْرَ وَشَارِبَهَا وَسَاقَيَهَا وَبَائِعَهَا وَمُبْتَاعَهَا وَعَاصِرَهَا وَمُعْتَصِرَهَا وَحَامِلَهَا وَالْمَحْمُولَةَ إِلَيْهِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

Ibn 'Umar reported God's Messenger as saying, "God has cursed* wine, its drinker, its server, its seller, its buyer, its presser, the one for whom it is pressed, the one who conveys it and the one to whom it is conveyed." Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it. * This might equally well be translated "God curse ...” as the perfect expresses both past time and a wish.

وَعَن محيصة أَنَّهُ اسْتَأْذَنَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي أُجْرَةِ الْحَجَّامِ فَنَهَاهُ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَسْتَأْذِنُهُ حَتَّى قَالَ: «اعْلِفْهُ نَاضِحَكَ وَأَطْعِمْهُ رَقِيقَكَ» . رَوَاهُ مَالِكٌ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

Muhayyisa said he asked permission of God's Messenger regarding the hire of the cupper, but he forbade him. He kept on asking his permission, and at last he said, "Feed your watering-camel with it and feed your slaves with it."* Malik, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it. * Ibn Abd al-Barr (Isti'ab, p. 286) says Muhayyisa had a slave called Nafi' Abu Taiba who was a cupper. On p. 654 he says the name of Abu Taiba was Dinar, or Nafi', or Maisara, but God knows best. In this tradition Muhayyisa is told that he may not apply to his private use anything earned by his slave for cupping.