Etiquettes of Business (1/2)

1- Conduct your business diligently and with interest. Earn your living by the sweat of your own brow and do not live as a parasite on others. On one occasion, a man from the tribe of Ansar came to the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and begged or assistance. The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) enquired: “Do you have anything at home?” The Companion (Allah be pleased with him) submitted: “O Holy Prophet of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you) We have two things only - a canvas which we use as bedding as well as a covering sheet and a bowl for drinking water". .The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) commanded: “Bring those two things to me.”

The Companion (Allah be pleased with him) at once brought both the things to him. The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) auctioned them for two dirhams and handing over the money to the Companion observed: "Go, buy some food for one dirham and leave it with your family, and buy an axe for the other dirham".

The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fixed a handle to the axe with his own auspicious hands and observed to the companion (Allah be Pleased with him): "Go to the jungle daily, cut some wood and sell it in the bazaar. Come back after fifteen days and report your condition to me.” At the end of a fortnight when the Companion (Allah be pleased with him) returned, he had accumulated a sum of ten dirhams, The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was overjoyed and observed: "This hard-earned income is better for thee than begging from others which might leave a stigma of begging on thy face on the Day of Judgement.”

2. Carry on your business in right earnest and earn as much as you can so that you may be free from dependence on others. Once the people submitted to the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "O Holy Prophet of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you) 'Which is the best form of earning?” The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed: "Earning with your own hands and income from the business which is free from dishonesty and fraud.”

Hadrat Abu Qalaba (Allah be merciful to him) to observed: "Conduct your business in right earnest in the bazaar. This is the way to remain attached to religion and free from all dependence upon others.”

3. Promote your business by truthful means. Strictly avoid swearing falsely in the name of Allah, The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) affirmed: "On the Day of Judgement Allah shall neither address, nor look at, nor admit that man to Paradise after purging him of sins who endeavours to expand his business by swearing falsely in the name of Allah.” (Reported by Muslim) Moreover, the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed: “Avoid swearing falsely in order to sell your goods. Apparently it looks like promoting your business but in fact it lets your business down and damages the goodwill of your business". (Reported by Muslim)

4. Be honest and trustworthy in business dealings. Do not turn your lawful earnings into unlawful income by supplying defective goods or by indulging in profiteering, The Prophet of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has affirmed: "A truthful and honest trader will be a Companion of the Prophets, the righteous and the martyrs on the Day of Judgement." (Reported by Tirmidhi)

5. Try to supply the best quality of goods to the customers. If a customer seeks your counsel, give him the best possible advice.

6. Take your customers into confidence so that they may trust you as their well-wisher who will never deceive them. The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has observed: "He who lived on lawful earnings, observed my Sunnah and did not cause mischief to the people will be admitted to Paradise". The people submitted: "O Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you)! There are a great number of such people at the present time". The Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed: "Such people will exist even after me." (Reported by Tirmidhi)

7. Be punctual.  Arrive at your place of business in time and remain there steady. The Holy Prophet of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has  observed: "Set out in search of livelihood and lawful earnings early in the morning, for work in the morning is auspicious and brings prosperity."

 (Continued)