Chapter 3: Fundamentals of Islamic Economic System by Dr. Muhammad Sharif Chaudhry

 

 

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Fundamentals of Islamic Economic System

By Dr. Muhammad Sharif Chaudhry

CHAPTER 3

PRODUCTION

Prohibited Means of Production of Wealth

  1. Interest

  2. Bribery

  3. Usurpation of Orphan’s Property

  4. Trade in Wine and Narcotics

  5. Gambling and Games of Chance

  6. Theft and Robbery

  7. Hoarding of Essential Goods

  8. Embezzlement

  9. Wrong Measuring and Weighing

  10. Prostitution

  11. Begging

  12. 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]

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 to the start of this chapter]

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 to the start of this chapter]

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 to the start of this chapter] 

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 to the start of this chapter]

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 to the start of this chapter]

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 to the start of this chapter]

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.

[Back to the start of this chapter]

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)

[Back to the start of this chapter]

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)

[Back to the start of this chapter]

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)

[Back to the start of this chapter]


[1] .     Traditions quoted by Afzal-ur-Rahman in Economic Doctrines of Islam.

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