In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

‘Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s), his blessed descendents and noble companions.’

                                                                      Aameen.

SOME SUNNATS PERTAING TO EARNING A HALAL LIVELIHOOD (Continuation)

S.26. Our Nabi SAW encouraged farming.

(Bukhari - S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 25)

S.27. Our Nabi SAW mentioned the following as some of the benefits of farming:

a. The farmer receives the reward of Sadaqah with the eating from the tree or plant by any bird, animal or human;

b. Reward is recorded for the farmer in proportion to the plants growth.

c. The farmer receives the reward of charity (Sadaqah) if any animal or human derives any benefit (like shade) from it.

Note: The farmer will receive this reward even if benefit was derived by anyone after having stolen it from the farmer. (S.K. - Vol. 2: Pg. 26)

S.28. Nabi SAW has prohibited the sale of several year’s crops and fruits at once. (Muslim - S.K. - Vol. 2: Pg. 60)

Note 1: The sale of that fruit or crop is permissible only after it appears and can be used. Selling of the crop after the flowers appear or even when it is very small or unsuitable for consumption is not permissible.

Note 2: This above impermissibility applies to both the seller and the purchaser.

S.29. Rasulullah SAW has said that the seller of any crop that perishes, (e.g. due to strong winds, hail etc) is not liable for anything from the purchaser. (S.K. - Vol. 2: Pg. 62)

S.30. Nabi SAW has prohibited the sale of any item that one does not possess. (One could promise that when that item comes on hand then it will be sold). (Tirmidhi- S.K.-Vol. 2 : Pg. 63)

S.31. Our Nabi SAW has prohibited the buying from one who is desperate due to any difficulty.

(Abu Dawud — S.K. - Vol. 2: Pg. 67)

S.32. The Prophet SAW has prohibited us from making an offer upon another’s offer. (Muslim - S.K. - Vol. 2: Pg. 67)

Note: This generally happens in property sales where one person makes an offer and a second person makes a better offer knowing full well that his Muslim brother has made an offer which has yet not been rejected.

S.33. Nabi SAW has prohibited the making of two transactions at once. (Abu Dawud— S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 60)

Note: For example, Zaid sells a car to Khalid with the condition that Khalid will sell to Zaid, his house. This is incorrect. Each transaction must be conducted separately.

S.34. Our beloved Nabi SAW has said that the man who consumes even one morsel of Haram food then such a person’s Salah and supplications (du‘a) will not be accepted for forty days. (Kanzul ‘Ummal - S.K. - Vol. 2: Pg. 30)

S.35. When weighing or measuring and selling then to give a little extra is Sunnah. (Tirmidhi- S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 48)

S.36. To sell any item by means of auction is permissible. (Tirmidhi - S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 48-49)

S.37. It is preferable to have major transactions reduced to writing. (Tirmidhi- S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 50)

S.38. It is incorrect when selling to stipulate a higher price for any item and then reduce that price to trick the uninitiated customer into paying a higher price and when buying to propose a lesser price than what one actually intends to pay. (Ibn Majah - S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 51)

S.39. To purchase on credit out of necessity is permissible. (Majma 'uz Zawaid- S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 50)

S.40. Allah SWT has kept Barakah (blessing) in partnership enterprises. (Mishkat- S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 52)

S.41. Nabi SAW has said that we should not include the non- Believers as partners in our business ventures as they engage in interest bearing transactions. (Kanzul ‘Ummal - S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 53)

S.42. Our beloved Nabi SAW has said that the time from early dawn to sunrise is when Allah distributes the sustenance of the people. Sleeping at this time is a means of being deprived of sustenance. (At-Targhib- S.K.- Vol. 2 : Pg. 53-54)

S.43. Nabi SAW has encouraged not to change one’s means of livelihood as long as one is benefiting from it; i.e. one is not suffering any loss or difficulty. (Ahmad- S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 54)

S.44. Once on oath, our beloved Nabi SAW said that every person's sustenance seeks him as does death, hence if difficulty is experienced in the acquisition of one’s sustenance then one should seek it by means of obedience to the commands of Allah Ta’ala. (At-Targhib - S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 55)

Note: This does not mean that the means of livelihood should be discarded, rather, whilst adopting the means of livelihood, ‘TAQWA’ should be adopted.

S.45. Nabi SAW has said that Allah SWT removes peace and contentment from that person’s heart who is continuously absorbed and consumed with the worldly worry of earning a livelihood. Such a person despite having wealth will experience difficulties. (At-Targhib - S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 56)

S.46. Nabi SAW said that whosoever sells any defective item without disclosing the fault shall remain perpetually in the anger of Allah and the curse of the angels. (Kanzul ‘Ummal - S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 58)

S.47. Rasulullah SAW has prohibited the stipulation of conditions when purchasing or selling. (AbuDawud-S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 60)

Note: An example of the above prohibition is the seller of a house saying to the purchaser that he is selling the house on condition that he will remain in the very house as the tenant for any period of time.

S.48. The giving, taking, writing down or even becoming a witness to interest transactions are Haram. Our Nabi SAW has said that all of them are cursed. (Mishkat- S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 73)

S.49. Nabi SAW has said that it is befitting for the following four persons that Allah does not grant them entry into Jannah nor makes them enjoy its pleasures:

1. An alcoholic or drug addict;

2. The one who consumes interest;

3. The one who unjustly consumes the wealth of an orphan;

4. The one who is disobedient to his parents.

(Haakim - S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 72)

S.50. Nabi SAW has said that the following six items when bought should be equal and cash transactions. The six items are:

1. Silver;

2. Gold;

3. Wheat;

4. Barley;

5. Dates;

6. Salt. (Mishkat-S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 74)

Note 1: If any item from the aforementioned six items are bartered in exchange of any other but itself then it is not necessary that it should be equal.

Note 2: However, it should NOT be a credit transaction but rather it should be cash. (S.K. - Vol. 2: Pg. 74)

Note 3: As the laws pertaining to interest are most complex, therefore, it is advised that one should enquire from the Ulama before engaging in any transaction.

S.51. Nabi SAW has said that one dirham earned by means of interest is worse (in sin) than committing adultery thirty three times. (Kanzul ‘Ummal— S.K.-Vol. 2 : Pg. 75)

S.52. It is prohibited to buy or sell one type of item (e.g., potatoes) in lieu of this same type of item except that it has to be a cash transaction and also it has to be equal. It is not allowed to sell, e.g.: two kg’s of cheap quality potatoes for one kg of good quality potatoes.

Nabi SAW taught the method of making this transaction as follows:

The two kg of potatoes should firstly be sold for cash, and thereafter, the one kg should be bought by cash.

If the item is not the same type, then the difference in quantity will be allowed. However, the transaction has to be cash, e.g., if Zaid wishes to sell two kg’s potatoes to Bakr in lieu of one kg onions then this would be allowed.

However, it has to be cash. Zaid cannot delay his transferring of ownership of his two kg of potatoes to a later date. (S.K. - Vol. 2 : Pg. 76)

A/N ;)

Normally, I don’t go near business or commerce, it confuses or muddles my poor brain ;P But Blessed be Allah SWT and Thousands of Durood be upon our beloved Nabi SAW for simplifying to us even the methods of earning livelihood, transactions etc., and by doing them we not only gain profit, Barakah but also billions of rewards. Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘Alameen!

With Duas and Salaam,

 abdurRahman (Gudi ;))