In the verse [Ma'idah, 5/88], our Lord Almighty (swt) states, "Eat of the good, lawful things provided to you by Allah. And be mindful of Allah in Whom you believe."
In the hadith, our Prophet (saw) says, "The truthful, trustworthy merchant is with the Prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs."2
Our Lord (swt), Who is "al-Razzaq", has bestowed countless blessings upon His servants. He (swt) commands that their servants seek halal and clean sustenance, and stay away from what is haram.
He (swt) advises that their servants strive for earning through halal ways, thus having their brow sweated while making an honest living.
As a matter of fact, He (swt) states in the Holy Qur'an, "Seek provision from Allah alone, worship Him, and be grateful to Him. To Him you will all be returned." [Ankabut, 29/17]
Halal earning is about recognizing that a blessing obtained through fair and honest effort and work is "the best provision". It is about weighing with justice, not giving short measures, and being honest in words and behaviours.
Halal earning is about being diligent in one's work, and giving the worker their wage before their sweat dries. It is about observing and respecting human rights and public rights, thus striving for increasing barakah in their earnings and life.
Halal earning is about not losing in spiritual terms while growing in material and financial terms. It is about not becoming a captive of their ambitions and greet, and making sure that they have not violated the rights of anybody.
Halal earning is about staying away from lying, cheating, and deceiving, and viewing a haram morsel as a flame burning the stomach.
How sad it is that modern times affect business and trade ethics negatively as well. Of course, people who are honest, trustworthy, have halal-haram sensitivity, and observe diligence in their work and the rights of the worker are in the majority.
However, the number of people who focus only on material aspects and think their purpose of life is to gain more and more is on the rise as well.
Sometimes it is neglected that work and business are also a trial, and that being diligent in one's work is a form of worship as well.
According to Islam, however, every piece of morsel in one's provision to be halal and legitimate is a requirement of the faith. It commands that we meticulously stay away from all kinds of haram such as alcohol and its trade, all games including gamling, all kinds of usury, theft, bribery, loan-sharking, embezzlement of public property, hoarding, and black market.
Let us not forget that the worship and invocation of those who earn their living through halal ways and spend in halal ways are appreciated.
Their earnings become full of barakah, and their homes full of peace. They eventually earn Allah's (swt) pleasure, and becomes worthy of His (swt) paradise.
The barakah of the property of those decrease if what they eat, drink, and wear is contaminated with haram.
While they think they are winning, they are actually losing. Their happiness in this world diminishes, and they sustain the damage of the punishment of hell in the Hereafter.
In this respect, the Messenger of Allah (saw) says, "Those who feed on haram are promised punishment." [Tirmidhi, Jumu'ah, 79]
As in every aspect of our life, we should base our business and trade on truth and honesty as well. Let us properly protect the boundaries of halal-haram set out by Allah (swt).
Let us earn through halal ways, produce halal, and spend halal. Let us not prefer temporary worldly possessions over happiness in the Hereafter.
Islam's Prophet (saw) warns all Muslims: "The feet of the son of Adam shall not move from before his Lord on the Day of Judgement, until he is asked about his wealth, how he earned it, and how he spent it." [Tirmidhi, Sifat al-Qiyamah, 1]
