Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: O people! Allaah is al-Tayyib [Pure], and He only accepts that which is pure! Allaah has commanded the relievers what He has commanded the Messengers, for He said, O Messengers! Eat from the pure foods, and do right, and He said, O you who believe Eat from the pure and good foods we have given you," (Muslim) This hadeeth relates to the verse of the Quran where Allaah says; O Messengers! Eat of the good foods and do righteous deeds. Verily, I am Well Acquainted with what you do." (Q23[al-Muminun]:51)
Good Means Halaal: Imam Abu Hamid al Ghazali (RAH) explained that the term the good foods" denotes those things that are halaal [permissible]. If one consumes what is haraam, whether in the form of haraam earnings, or haraam food, or otherwise engages in haraam activities, ones good deeds will suffer as a result. Clearly the halaal alluded to in the verse includes halaal earnings. Moreover, the command to partake of the good foods is given before the command to work righteousness or to do good deeds. As the order of the commands indicates precedence, it should be clear that one’s earning and then eating of the "good foods" is even more important than ones doing good deeds.
Be Good Trustees Equally important is that the Muslim must understand that whatever wealth he or she accumulates is in reality the property of the Almighty over which He has granted him or her, a temporary right. Allaah says, "Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth and aIl surrender with obedience (in worship) to Him" (Q2[Baqarah]:116)
Viewed from this perspective, wealth and its management become a religious responsibility. A Muslims partaking of the "good foods", therefore, means that his/her earnings are halaal. Likewise, when Allaah asks a Muslim to spend from his/her earnings, primarily that wealth must be halaal. Allaah says: "O you who believe Spend of the good things which you have [legally] earned, and of that which We have produced from the earth for you, and do not aim at that which Is bad to spend from it [though] you would not accept it save if you close your eyes and tolerate therein, And know that Allah is rich,[Free from all needs]and worthy of all praise (Q2[Baqarah]:267)
When Less Is More & Better: Let us now consider another verse from the Quran. Allaah says, Say (O Muhammad): Not equal are al-Khabith [evil and bad things, food etc] and at-Tayyib [aIl good things, foods etc], even though the abundance of al-Khabith may please you. So fear AIlaah, O men of understanding in order that you may be successful. (Q5[Baqarah]:100) This verse presents a different scale for the measurement of success, one that differs considerably from the scale used by most people.
On the surface of things, for example, one hundred Naira is clearly a greater sum that five Naira. But if those one hundred were earned by unlawful means, they would be impure and therefore devoid of blessings- Whereas, if the five Naira had been earned by halaal means, they would be good and pure; and far more valuable than the tainted one hundred. What is impure, regardless of its quantity, will never equal the good and pure. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: O Kaab, ibn Ujrah! Any flesh that has been nourished with haraam will not enter paradise! And any flesh that has been fed on haraam has more right to the fire of hell (Tarabani) From this we see that any and all types of impure earnings or wealth are a cause of entering the fire of Hell, and prohibit one from entering Paradise.
Similarly, what is pure, regardless of its small or meager quantity, will always grow into magnificent proportion with Allaah. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "Whoever gives charity equivalent to a date, from his pure earnings and Allaah only accepts the pure then Allaah will accept it with His right hand, then He will nurture it for its companion, like one of you nurtures his foal, until it becomes like a mountain." (Bukhari) Seek Halal Earnings Abd. Allah-Ibn Masud (RA) narrated upon the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) that He said, "The seekinq of halaal sustenance is an obligation upon the, Muslim" (Mishkat) This narration) is not authentic (and Allaah knows best], but its meaning is correct and firmly established from the fore-qolnq.
Also, in commenting on the hadith that seeking knowledge is the duty of every muslims certain scholars noted that the meaning of seeking knowledge of halaal and the haraam, further it is related that sa'd asked the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) to request to Allaah to make him, sa’d, one whose every prayers will be answere. The prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) replied: Ensure that what you consume is halaal, and your prayers will be answerd.
In another narration Sa’d bn Abee Waqqas was asked: why is it that your duaa are responded to amongst all the other companions? He replied, I do not raise to mouth a morsel except that I know where it came from and where it came out of (Sharh al-Arba'in) Guiding principles for the muslim investors From the foregoing it should be clear that halaal earnings have important for muslims that goes beyond the obvious worldly benefits of those earnings. On the other hand, the detriment o muslims to prohibited earnings will be felt in this world and the next. Allaah says, So give to the kindred is due, and to the poorer and the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek Allah's countenance and it is them who will be successful. And that which you give in gift to others in order that it may increase your wealth through interest from other people's property, has no increase with Allah, but that which you give in charity [Zakaat,Sadaqaat.etc] seeking Allaah’s countenance, then those they shall have manifold increase (Q 30[ar-Ruum]:39)
Let us conclude here by reviewing these texts and attempting to extract from a set of principles to guide the muslim as he buys or sells shares. ? A muslim investors must be careful to seek halaal earnings and avoid what is haraam. Seeking halaal requires that a muslim first seek knowledge of what is halaal and what is haraam. ? There is a clear relationship between One's partaking of the halaal and One's doing good deeds. ? Haraam earnings, even if they appear to be great are of no real value. ? Seeking halaal earnings will lead One to success in this world and the next.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited