Etiquettes of Doing Business

سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ الْفِقْهَ ثُمَّ الْمَتْجَرَ الْفِقْهَ ثُمَّ الْمَتْجَرَ الْفِقْهَ ثُمَّ الْمَتْجَرَ وَ اللَّهِ لَلرِّبَا فِي هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ أَخْفَى مِنْ دَبِيبِ النَّمْلِ عَلَى الصَّفَا شُوبُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ التَّاجِرُ فَاجِرٌ وَ الْفَاجِرُ فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا مَنْ أَخَذَ الْحَقَّ وَ أَعْطَى الْحَقَّ.

“I heard Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), saying from the pulpit, ‘O people who do business, you must learn fiqh (laws), then go in business, you must learn fiqh (laws) then go in business, you must learn fiqh (laws) then go in business. I swear by Allah, Riba ’ creeps in this nation more quietly than an ant’s moving on a hard

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ بَاعَ وَ اشْتَرَى فَلْيَحْفَظْ خَمْسَ خِصَالٍ وَ إِلَّا فَلَا يَشْتَرِيَنَّ وَ لَا يَبِيعَنَّ الرِّبَا وَ الْحَلْفَ وَ كِتْمَانَ الْعَيْبِ وَ الْحَمْدَ إِذَا بَاعَ وَ الذَّمَّ إِذَا اشْتَرَى.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy, who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘One who buys and sells must not

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بِالْكُوفَةِ عِنْدَكُمْ يَغْتَدِي كُلَّ يَوْمٍ بُكْرَةً مِنَ الْقَصْرِ فَيَطُوفُ فِي أَسْوَاقِ الْكُوفَةِ سُوقاً سُوقاً وَ مَعَهُ الدِّرَّةُ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ وَ كَانَ لَهَا طَرَفَانِ وَ كَانَتْ تُسَمَّى السَّبِيبَةَ[1] فَيَقِفُ عَلَى أَهْلِ كُلِّ سُوقٍ فَيُنَادِي يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَإِذَا سَمِعُوا صَوْتَهُ ع أَلْقَوْا مَا بِأَيْدِيهِمْ وَ أَرْعَوْا

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ibn Mahbub from ‘Amr ibn abu al-Miqdam from Jabir, who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, lived among y

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص لَمْ يَأْذَنْ لِحَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ بِالتِّجَارَةِ حَتَّى ضَمِنَ لَهُ إِقَالَةَ النَّادِمِ وَ إِنْظَارَ الْمُعْسِرِ وَ أَخْذَ الْحَقِّ وَافِياً وَ غَيْرَ وَافٍ.

“He (the Imam) has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, did not give permission to Hakim ibn Hizam for business until the later promised to settle the price with a buyer who is regretful about the transaction, extend the time of

جَاءَتْ زَيْنَبُ الْعَطَّارَةُ الْحَوْلَاءُ إِلَى نِسَاءِ النَّبِيِّ ص فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ص فَإِذَا هِيَ عِنْدَهُمْ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص إِذَا أَتَيْتِنَا طَابَتْ بُيُوتُنَا فَقَالَتْ بُيُوتُكَ بِرِيحِكَ أَطْيَبُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا بِعْتِ فَأَحْسِنِي وَ لَا تَغُشِّي فَإِنَّهُ أَتْقَى لِلَّهِ وَ أَبْقَى لِلْمَالِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Once Zaynab al-‘Attarah al-Hawla’ visited the wives of the Holy Prophet, and the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, also came home when she was with his wives. The Holy Prophet said, ‘When you visit our houses t

إِذَا قَالَ لَكَ الرَّجُلُ اشْتَرِ لِي فَلَا تُعْطِهِ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ الَّذِي عِنْدَكَ خَيْراً مِنْهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, once said to me, ‘If someone asks you to buy for him a certain merchandise, you must not buy it for him from your own shop even if the merchandise from your shop be better.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ السَّمَاحَةُ مِنَ الرَّبَاحِ قَالَ ذَلِكَ لِرَجُلٍ يُوصِيهِ وَ مَعَهُ سِلْعَةٌ يَبِيعُهَا.

‘Generosity is of profits.’ The Messenger of Allah said it to a man who had asked for good advice and who had certain merchandise that he wanted to sell.’”

مَرَّ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَى جَارِيَةٍ قَدِ اشْتَرَتْ لَحْماً مِنْ قَصَّابٍ وَ هِيَ تَقُولُ زِدْنِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ زِدْهَا فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لِلْبَرَكَةِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), once said to a butcher about a slave-girl who had purchased meat from his shop and who was asking for more, ‘You must give her more; it has greater blessings.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا قَالَ الرَّجُلُ لِلرَّجُلِ هَلُمَّ أَحْسِنْ بَيْعَكَ يَحْرُمُ عَلَيْهِ الرِّبْحُ‌[1].

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘If a man says to another man, ‘Come with me, I will offer you a good deal,’ it becomes unlawful for him to make any profit in that deal.’”

فِي رَجُلٍ عِنْدَهُ بَيْعٌ فَسَعَّرَهُ سِعْراً مَعْلُوماً فَمَنْ سَكَتَ عَنْهُ مِمَّنْ يَشْتَرِي مِنْهُ بَاعَهُ بِذَلِكَ السِّعْرِ وَ مَنْ مَاكَسَهُ وَ أَبَى أَنْ يَبْتَاعَ مِنْهُ زَادَهُ‌[2] قَالَ لَوْ كَانَ يَزِيدُ الرَّجُلَيْنِ وَ الثَّلَاثَةَ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِذَلِكَ بَأْسٌ فَأَمَّا أَنْ يَفْعَلَهُ بِمَنْ أَبَى عَلَيْهِ وَ كَايَسَهُ وَ يَمْنَعُهُ مِمَّنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَلَا يُعْجِبُنِي إِلَّا أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ بَ

“I (the narrator) once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who had set a price on a certain item of his merchandise. Thereafter whoever purchased that merchandise without asking for any discount, he sold it to them for the same price; but those who asked for a discount he instead increased the price. He (the Imam)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ صَاحِبُ السِّلْعَةِ أَحَقُّ بِالسَّوْمِ‌[4].

The owner of merchandise is more rightful to set up the price for his merchandise.’”

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنِ السَّوْمِ مَا بَيْنَ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ إِلَى طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ‌[5].

“He (the Imam) has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, prohibited bargaining between dawn and sunrise.”

نُبِّئْتُ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنَّهُ كَرِهَ بَيْعَيْنِ اطْرَحْ وَ خُذْ عَلَى غَيْرِ تَقْلِيبٍ وَ شِرَاءَ مَا لَمْ يُرَ[1].

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘I dislike two kinds of transactions: To say, “Drop the merchandise and receive payment”, and buying something without seeing it.’”

غَبْنُ الْمُسْتَرْسِلِ سُحْتٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Selling above a fair price to one who has left it (pricing) to the seller is Suht (unlawful and filthy).’”

غَبْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ حَرَامٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Selling above fair piece to a believing person is unlawful.’”

أَيُّمَا عَبْدٍ أَقَالَ مُسْلِماً فِي بَيْعٍ أَقَالَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَثْرَتَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one accepts a Muslim’s request to return a merchandise Allah, most High, on the Day of Judgment (returns) reduces his sins.’”

كُنْتُ عَلَى بَابِ شِهَابِ بْنِ عَبْدِ رَبِّهِ فَخَرَجَ غُلَامُ شِهَابٍ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَ هَاشِمَ الصَّيْدَنَانِيَّ عَنْ حَدِيثِ السِّلْعَةِ وَ الْبِضَاعَةِ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُ هَاشِماً فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْحَدِيثِ فَقَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الْبِضَاعَةِ وَ السِّلْعَةِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ سِلْعَةٌ أَوْ بِضَاعَةٌ إِلَّا قَيَّضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَنْ

‘I want to ask Hashim al-Saydananiy about the Hadith on “price and merchandise.’” He (the narrator) has said, ‘I then visited Hashim and asked him about that Hadith.’ He (Hashim) said, “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about this Hadith and he (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, whoever has a merchandise or goods with him, Allah, mos

كَانَ أَبُو أُمَامَةَ صَاحِبُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ‌ أَرْبَعٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ فَقَدْ طَابَ مَكْسَبُهُ إِذَا اشْتَرَى لَمْ يَعِبْ وَ إِذَا بَاعَ لَمْ يَحْمَدْ وَ لَا يُدَلِّسُ وَ فِيمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ لَا يَحْلِفُ.

“One who has four things his earning is fine: When buying does not belittle the merchandise, when selling does not admire the merchandise, does not adulterate and in between does not swear.’””

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ عَامَّةَ مَنْ يَأْتِينِي مِنْ إِخْوَانِي فَحُدَّ لِي مِنْ مُعَامَلَتِهِمْ مَا لَا أَجُوزُهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ فَقَالَ إِنْ وَلَّيْتَ أَخَاكَ فَحَسَنٌ وَ إِلَّا فَبِعْ بَيْعَ الْبَصِيرِ الْمُدَاقِّ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Most of my clients are from our brothers (in belief). I request you to set for me a limit, how should I deal with them in a transaction so that I will not go beyond that limit.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If you consider your brother (in belief) as the person in charge it is fine, othe

قَالَ نُبِّئْتُ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنَّهُ كَرِهَ بَيْعَيْنِ اطْرَحْ وَ خُذْ عَلَى غَيْرِ تَقْلِيبٍ وَ شِرَاءَ مَا لَمْ يُرَ.

“I was told about abu Ja‘far (a.s.), that he disliked two kinds of transactions: ‘Drop the merchandise without turning its other side and receive payment’, and ‘buying merchandise without seeing’.”

هُمُ التُّجَّارُ الَّذِينَ لَا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَ لَا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا دَخَلَ مَوَاقِيتُ الصَّلَاةِ أَدَّوْا إِلَى اللَّهِ حَقَّهُ فِيهَا.

“About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘There are men who do not become distracted from speaking of Allah because of trading and business.’ (24:37) He (the Imam) said, ‘They are the business people who do not become distracted from speaking of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, because of trade and

رِبْحُ الْمُؤْمِنِ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ رِبًا إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْتَرِيَ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ مِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَارْبَحْ عَلَيْهِ قُوتَ يَوْمِكَ أَوْ يَشْتَرِيَهُ لِلتِّجَارَةِ فَارْبَحُوا عَلَيْهِمْ وَ ارْفُقُوا بِهِمْ.

“Abu ‘Abdullah (a.s.), has said, ‘A believer’s making profit on another believer is Riba’ except if he buys more than a hundred dirham worth of goods, in which case, he can make a profit equal to the expenses of his day, or if he buys it for business and reselling. You may in this case make a profit but you must deal w

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ‌ مَنِ اتَّجَرَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ارْتَطَمَ فِي الرِّبَا ثُمَّ ارْتَطَمَ قَالَ وَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ لَا يَقْعُدَنَّ فِي السُّوقِ إِلَّا مَنْ يَعْقِلُ الشِّرَاءَ وَ الْبَيْعَ.[4]

‘If one does business without knowledge, he plunges in Riba ’ again and again.’ Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would also say, ‘One who does not understand buying and selling must not sit in the market place for doing business.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى النَّاسِ بَرِّهِمْ وَ فَاجِرِهِمْ بِالْكِتَابِ وَ الْحِسَابِ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَتَغَالَطُوا.

‘It is from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, upon people, virtuous and sinful ones to write down and keep proper accounting. Without this they, certainly, suffer confusion and mistakes.’”