Since the development of man’s earthly life, business in the form of exchanging or bartering essential commodities has been an integral aspect of the daily lives of human beings.
Their very subsistence depended upon this form of trade and exchange. Almighty Allah, the Creator and Provider of man’s needs, established the principle of interdependence in man’s life. The basic, essential needs of man are food, drink, clothing and shelter. These primary needs, which are crucial to man’s survival on earth as well as to the improvement of his living conditions, are only obtainable through the institution of business and trade.
It is virtually impossible for one person to satisfy all these needs alone by producing them or manufacturing them himself. Man is, therefore, forced to purchase these items of need from the various individuals or companies who produce them, and this results in the practice of buying and selling on a very expansive scale. Islam has, therefore, attached great importance to trade and commerce as the relevant citations appearing further on shall conclusively indicate.
Had there been no means of buying items essential to one’s existence, people would then have been compelled out of desperation to acquire these through force and violence, thus leading to murder and bloodshed. In this manner the entire world order as set up by Almighty Allah would have been severely disrupted.
Establishing a system of trade is one thing, ensuring that it runs smoothly and efficiently is another. Over the passing of time man’s needs increased tremendously. This meant an escalation in the volume and rate of business. Initially man concentrated on needs only. Then came the wants or secondary needs.
As the means of acquiring needs and wants became more simplified and convenient, man began yearning for luxuries and comforts. Moreover, as mankind produced and reproduced, populations increased rapidly. All this meant more needs, higher standards of living, and, needless to say, greatly increased business activity.
Furthermore, Almighty Allah has incorporated into man’s spiritual being both good and bad qualities, as the Holy Quran clearly states:
“So He introduced into it (the soul) its good and evil.”
(Surah Shams)
As society became more affluent, spiritual and moral degradation generally increased. Man’s high standard of worldly life began eroding his Rooh or spiritual self. From a mere means of fulfilling needs and wants, business, and more accurately, the accumulation of wealth and riches, now became an end in itself. And all this violently conflicts with what Islam taught and desired for its followers. As far as Islam is concerned business fulfilled a need, and had to be kept as such.
In view of increased business activity and an on-going decline in man’s spiritual life and morality there were bound to be problems. To encounter and overcome these problems Islam, through the Holy Quran and Hadeeth, had devised an elaborate set of laws governing trade and commerce. These laws were to fulfil a variety of objectives:
•To counter man’s greed and consequent abuse of the rights of others;
•To ensure that the earnings of man are halaal and pure;
•To create a harmonious atmosphere among people, something which can be utterly destroyed by man’s desire for wealth and position.
Among these, the second factor is vitally important to the Muslim individual, since the acceptance of all man’s ibadat and service is largely dependent upon the consumption of Halaal food and the utilisation of Halaal goods and products.
There is definitely an integral link between man’s earnings, which entail business dealings, and his ibadat unto Allah Ta’ala. This one factor alone underscores in no uncertain terms the significance and emphasis Islam has laid on correct and valid business dealings.
