The Book of Commerce

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.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ سُوقُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَمَسْجِدِهِمْ فَمَنْ سَبَقَ إِلَى مَكَانٍ فَهُوَ أَحَقُّ بِهِ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ وَ كَانَ لَا يَأْخُذُ عَلَى بُيُوتِ السُّوقِ الْكِرَاءَ[1].

‘The market-place of Muslims is like their Masjid. Whoever comes first to a place in it is more rightful than others to benefit thereof.’ He did not charge any rent for the use of houses of the market-place.’”

سُوقُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَمَسْجِدِهِمْ يَعْنِي إِذَا سَبَقَ إِلَى السُّوقِ كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلَ الْمَسْجِدِ.

The market-place of Muslims is like their Masjid, that is, whoever comes to a place first is like the Masjid for him (in regards to having more right than others to use it).

قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَا أَبَا الْفَضْلِ أَ مَا لَكَ مَكَانٌ تَقْعُدُ فِيهِ فَتُعَامِلَ النَّاسَ قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ مُؤْمِنٍ يَرُوحُ أَوْ يَغْدُو إِلَى مَجْلِسِهِ أَوْ سُوقِهِ فَيَقُولُ حِينَ يَضَعُ رِجْلَهُ فِي السُّوقِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِهَا وَ خَيْرِ أَهْلِهَا إِلَّا وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مَنْ يَحْفَظُهُ وَ يَحْفَظُ عَلَيْهِ‌[1] حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى م

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), once said to me, ‘O abu al-Fadl, do you have a place where you can sit and do business with people ? 5 I replied, ‘Yes, I have such a place . 5 He (the Imam) then said, ‘Whoever of believing people during the morning or evening goes to his market-place and says this when setting foot in the market-p

إِذَا دَخَلْتَ سُوقَكَ فَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِهَا وَ خَيْرِ أَهْلِهَا وَ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَ شَرِّ أَهْلِهَا اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أَظْلِمَ أَوْ أُظْلَمَ أَوْ أَبْغِيَ أَوْ يُبْغَى عَلَيَّ أَوْ أَعْتَدِيَ أَوْ يُعْتَدَى عَلَيَّ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ إِبْلِيسَ وَ جُنُودِهِ وَ شَرِّ فَسَقَةِ الْعَرَبِ وَ الْعَجَمِ وَ حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلّ

‘When you enter your market-place you should say this, ‘O Allah, I pray to You to grant me of its (market-place) good things and its good people. I seek protection with You against its evil and the evil of its people. O Allah, I seek protection with You against my own injustice and injustice done to me, against my own

إِذَا اشْتَرَيْتَ شَيْئاً مِنْ مَتَاعٍ‌[2] أَوْ غَيْرِهِ فَكَبِّرْ ثُمَّ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي اشْتَرَيْتُهُ أَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ اللَّهُمَّ فَاجْعَلْ لِي فِيهِ فَضْلًا اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي اشْتَرَيْتُهُ أَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ [اللَّهُمَ‌] فَاجْعَلْ لِي فِيهِ رِزْقاً ثُمَّ أَعِدْ كُلَّ وَاحِدَةٍ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ‌[3].

‘When you buy merchandise or something say Takbir (Allah is great beyond description). Then say, ‘O Allah, I have purchased this and I seek in it your extra favor, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. O Allah, place in it of your extra favors. O Allah, I have pu

إِذَا اشْتَرَيْتَ جَارِيَةً[1] فَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَشِيرُكَ وَ أَسْتَخِيرُكَ.

‘When you want to buy a slave-girl say this, ‘O Allah, I consult You and pray to You to grant me what is good.’”

إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَشْتَرِيَ شَيْئاً فَقُلْ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ يَا دَائِمُ يَا رَءُوفُ يَا رَحِيمُ أَسْأَلُكَ بِعِزَّتِكَ وَ قُدْرَتِكَ وَ مَا أَحَاطَ بِهِ عِلْمُكَ أَنْ تَقْسِمَ لِي مِنَ التِّجَارَةِ الْيَوْمَ أَعْظَمَهَا رِزْقاً وَ أَوْسَعَهَا فَضْلًا وَ خَيْرَهَا عَاقِبَةً فَإِنَّهُ لَا خَيْرَ فِيمَا لَا عَاقِبَةَ لَهُ‌[2] قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذَا اشْتَرَيْتَ دَابَّةً أَوْ رَأْساً فَقُلِ ا

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you decide to buy something say this, “O Living, O Guardian, O Eternal, O Compassionate, O Merciful I pray to You through Your majesty, Your power and all that Your knowledge encompasses, grant me of business the greatest share of sustenance, vastest extra favors and the best of

إِذَا اشْتَرَيْتَ دَابَّةً[3] فَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَتْ عَظِيمَةَ الْبَرَكَةِ فَاضِلَةَ الْمَنْفَعَةِ مَيْمُونَةَ النَّاصِيَةِ فَيَسِّرْ لِي شِرَاهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهَا إِلَى الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ لِي مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ وَ لَا أَعْلَمُ وَ تَقْدِرُ وَ لَا أَقْدِرُ وَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ* تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar, who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you decide to buy an animal, say this, “O Allah, if this is of great blessings, extra benefits and of a fortunate nature, I pray to You to make its purchasin

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تَشْتَرِ مِنْ مُحَارَفٍ فَإِنَّ صَفْقَتَهُ لَا بَرَكَةَ فِيهَا.[4]

‘You must not purchase from a Muharaf (unfortunate) person; making a deal with such people is devoid of blessings.’ ”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا قَوْماً مِنَ الْأَكْرَادِ وَ إِنَّهُمْ لَا يَزَالُونَ يَجِيئُونَ بِالْبَيْعِ فَنُخَالِطُهُمْ وَ نُبَايِعُهُمْ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا الرَّبِيعِ لَا تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِنَّ الْأَكْرَادَ حَيٌّ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ الْجِنِّ كَشَفَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمُ الْغِطَاءَ فَلَا تُخَالِطُوهُمْ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘In our area there are Kurdish people who come and sell certain things. Can we intermingle with them and purchase from them?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O abu Rabi‘, you must not intermingle with them; Kurdish people are a tribe of the tribes of Jinn from

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تُعَامِلْ ذَا عَاهَةٍ فَإِنَّهُمْ أَظْلَمُ شَيْ‌ءٍ[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘You must not form contracts with people suffering from crippling diseases; they are of most unjust things (they do not avoid transmitting their diseases to others).”’

اسْتَقْرَضَ قَهْرَمَانٌ‌[2] لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مِنْ رَجُلٍ طَعَاماً لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَلَحَّ فِي التَّقَاضِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ لَمْ أَنْهَكَ أَنْ تَسْتَقْرِضَ لِي مِمَّنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ فَكَانَ.

“Once an agent of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), borrowed a certain amount of food (grain) for abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). The lender insistently demanded replacement. He (the Imam) said to his agent, ‘Did I not prohibit you the borrowing from one who did not have anything (who has) just then come to own something?”’

لَا تُخَالِطُوا وَ لَا تُعَامِلُوا إِلَّا مَنْ نَشَأَ فِي الْخَيْرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not form contracts with anyone other than those who are established in goodness.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ احْذَرُوا مُعَامَلَةَ أَصْحَابِ الْعَاهَاتِ فَإِنَّهُمْ أَظْلَمُ شَيْ‌ءٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Avoid forming contracts with people who suffer from crippling diseases; they do (not avoid transmitting their disease to others) the most unjust things.’”

إِيَّاكَ وَ مُخَالَطَةَ السَّفِلَةِ- فَإِنَّ السَّفِلَةَ لَا يَئُولُ إِلَى خَيْرٍ[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must remain on your guard in intermingling with lowly people; lowly people do not end up in goodness.’” (Al-Saduq in Ma‘ani al-Akhbar has said the following to be of the qualities of lowly people: People indifferent to what they say or what is said against them, those who play tam

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تُخَالِطُوا وَ لَا تُعَامِلُوا إِلَّا مَنْ نَشَأَ فِي الْخَيْرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not intermingle or form contract with anyone except those who are established in goodness.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تُعَامِلْ ذَا عَاهَةٍ فَإِنَّهُمْ أَظْلَمُ شَيْ‌ءٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not form contracts with people who suffer from crippling diseases; they are most unjust things’ (do not avoid transmitting their disease to others).”

لَا يَكُونُ الْوَفَاءُ حَتَّى يَمِيلَ الْمِيزَانُ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Proper weighing is only when a balance tilts to one side.”’

قَالَ: مَنْ أَخَذَ الْمِيزَانَ بِيَدِهِ فَنَوَى أَنْ يَأْخُذَ لِنَفْسِهِ وَافِياً لَمْ يَأْخُذْ إِلَّا رَاجِحاً[2] وَ مَنْ أَعْطَى فَنَوَى أَنْ يُعْطِيَ سَوَاءً لَمْ يُعْطِ إِلَّا نَاقِصاً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one uses a balance with the intention to weigh for himself properly ends up weighing heavier for himself, and one who intends to weigh equally, ends up weighing less.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي صَاحِبُ نَخْلٍ فَخَبِّرْنِي بِحَدٍّ أَنْتَهِي إِلَيْهِ فِيهِ مِنَ الْوَفَاءِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع انْوِ الْوَفَاءَ فَإِنْ أَتَى عَلَى يَدِكَ وَ قَدْ نَوَيْتَ الْوَفَاءَ نُقْصَانٌ كُنْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْوَفَاءِ وَ إِنْ نَوَيْتَ النُّقْصَانَ ثُمَّ أَوْفَيْتَ كُنْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النُّقْصَانِ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I own palm trees. Instruct me how to be proper in my giving and taking.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Keep your intention to maintain it (crop) properly fair; if despite such intention, less proper fairness takes place, you are of those who maintain it properly. On the other han

قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ نِيَّتِهِ الْوَفَاءُ وَ هُوَ إِذَا كَالَ‌ لَمْ يُحْسِنْ أَنْ يَكِيلَ قَالَ فَمَا يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ حَوْلَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ لَا يُوفِي قَالَ هَذَا لَا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَكِيلَ.

"I said to him, 'A man has the intention of being honest, but when he measures, he does not know how to measure.' He said, 'What do those around him say?' I said, 'They say he does not fulfill (his measures).' He replied, 'This person should not measure.'"

لَا يَكُونُ الْوَفَاءُ حَتَّى يَرْجَحَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not a proper weighing until a side of balance tilts.’”

لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ غَشَّنَا[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who cheats us is not of our people.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِرَجُلٍ يَبِيعُ التَّمْرَ يَا فُلَانُ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَنْ غَشَّهُمْ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once said to a man who sold dates, ‘O master so and so, do you know that one who cheats Muslims is not one of them?”’

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فَإِذَا دَنَانِيرُ مَصْبُوبَةٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى دِينَارٍ فَأَخَذَهُ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَطَعَهُ بِنِصْفَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي أَلْقِهِ فِي الْبَالُوعَةِ حَتَّى لَا يُبَاعَ شَيْ‌ءٌ فِيهِ غِشٌّ.

“Once we were in the presence of abu al-Hassan (a.s.), while in front of him there were certain pieces of dinars. He (the Imam) looked at one piece and picked it up and broke it into two pieces. He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Throw it in the trash so an adulterated thing is not purchased anymore.’”

دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ يَبِيعُ الدَّقِيقَ فَقَالَ إِيَّاكَ وَ الْغِشَّ فَإِنَّ مَنْ غَشَّ غُشَّ فِي مَالِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ غُشَّ فِي أَهْلِهِ.

“Once, a man who sold flour came before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) said to him, ‘Beware of cheating; one who cheats in matters of properties, cheating takes place in his properties, if he does not have any property cheating takes place in his family (wife).”’

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص- عَنْ أَنْ يُشَابَ اللَّبَنُ بِالْمَاءِ لِلْبَيْعِ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, prohibited mixing of milk with water to sell.’”

كُنْتُ‌ أَبِيعُ السَّابِرِيَّ فِي الظِّلَالِ فَمَرَّ بِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع فَقَالَ لِي يَا هِشَامُ إِنَّ الْبَيْعَ فِي الظِّلِّ غِشٌّ وَ إِنَّ الْغِشَّ لَا يَحِلُ‌[1].

“Once when I was selling al-Sabiriy (a certain kind of fabric) in the shade, abu al-Hassan (a.s.), passed by and said to me, ‘O Hisham, selling in shade is cheating and cheating is not lawful.’”

مَرَّ النَّبِيُّ ص فِي سُوقِ الْمَدِينَةِ بِطَعَامٍ فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ مَا أَرَى طَعَامَكَ إِلَّا طَيِّباً وَ سَأَلَهُ عَنْ سِعْرِهِ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَدُسَّ يَدَيْهِ فِي الطَّعَامِ‌[2] فَفَعَلَ فَأَخْرَجَ طَعَاماً رَدِيّاً فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ مَا أَرَاكَ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ جَمَعْتَ خِيَانَةً وَ غِشّاً لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ‌[3].

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn Mahbub from abu Jamilah from Sa‘d al-Iskaf who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Once, in the market place of al-Madinah, the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to

دَعَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَوْلًى لَهُ يُقَالُ لَهُ مُصَادِفٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ أَلْفَ دِينَارٍ وَ قَالَ لَهُ تَجَهَّزْ حَتَّى تَخْرُجَ إِلَى مِصْرَ فَإِنَّ عِيَالِي قَدْ كَثُرُوا قَالَ فَتَجَهَّزَ بِمَتَاعٍ وَ خَرَجَ مَعَ التُّجَّارِ إِلَى مِصْرَ فَلَمَّا دَنَوْا مِنْ مِصْرَ اسْتَقْبَلَتْهُمْ قَافِلَةٌ خَارِجَةٌ مِنْ مِصْرَ فَسَأَلُوهُمْ عَنِ الْمَتَاعِ الَّذِي مَعَهُمْ مَا حَالُهُ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَ كَانَ مَتَاعَ الْ

“Once abu Ja‘far (a.s.), called one of his servants named Musadif and gave him a thousand dinar. He (the Imam) told him to prepare for traveling to Egypt and added, ‘The number of my dependents has increased.’ He (the narrator) has said that the servant prepared certain items of merchandise along with the traders to go

قَامَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَى دَارِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ وَ كَانَ يُقَامُ فِيهَا الْإِبِلُ فَقَالَ يَا مَعَاشِرَ السَّمَاسِرَةِ[2] أَقِلُّوا الْأَيْمَانَ فَإِنَّهَا مَنْفَقَةٌ لِلسِّلْعَةِ مَمْحَقَةٌ لِلرِّبْحِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), once stood on the house of ibn abu Mu‘ayt where camel men stayed, and said, ‘O middlemen people, you must reduce swearing; it makes a merchandise easily marketable but destroys the profit.’”

ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِلَيْهِمْ- يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَحَدُهُمْ رَجُلٌ اتَّخَذَ اللَّهَ بِضَاعَةً لَا يَشْتَرِي إِلَّا بِيَمِينٍ وَ لَا يَبِيعُ إِلَّا بِيَمِينٍ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Tsa from ‘Ubayd Allah al- Dihqan from Durust ibn abu Mansur from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), has said, ‘On the Day of Judgment, Allah, most High, will not look to three kin

أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ‌ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الْحَلْفَ فَإِنَّهُ يُنَفِّقُ السِّلْعَةَ وَ يَمْحَقُ الْبَرَكَةَ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would say, ‘Beware of swearing; it may make a merchandise easily sell, but it destroys the blessings.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ عَلَامَةُ رِضَا اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فِي خَلْقِهِ عَدْلُ سُلْطَانِهِمْ وَ رُخْصُ أَسْعَارِهِمْ وَ عَلَامَةُ غَضَبِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى عَلَى خَلْقِهِ- جَوْرُ سُلْطَانِهِمْ وَ غَلَاءُ أَسْعَارِهِمْ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), 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, ‘Of the signs of happiness of Allah, most High, with His creatures is the existence of a just ruler and low prices. Of the signs of unhappiness of Allah,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ وَكَّلَ بِالسِّعْرِ مَلَكاً فَلَنْ يَغْلُوَ مِنْ قِلَّةٍ وَ لَا يَرْخُصَ مِنْ كَثْرَةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has assigned an angel on prices. Prices do not go high because of shortages and do not lower because of bounteousness.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَكَّلَ بِالسِّعْرِ مَلَكاً يُدَبِّرُهُ بِأَمْرِهِ.

“Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has assigned an angel who regulates prices by His command.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَكَّلَ بِالْأَسْعَارِ مَلَكاً يُدَبِّرُهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has assigned an angel on prices who regulates them (as needed).”’

لَمَّا صَارَتِ الْأَشْيَاءُ لِيُوسُفَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ ع جَعَلَ الطَّعَامَ فِي بُيُوتٍ وَ أَمَرَ بَعْضَ وُكَلَائِهِ فَكَانَ يَقُولُ بِعْ بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ السِّعْرُ قَائِمٌ فَلَمَّا عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ يَزِيدُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ كَرِهَ أَنْ يَجْرِيَ الْغَلَاءُ عَلَى لِسَانِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ اذْهَبْ فَبِعْ وَ لَمْ يُسَمِّ لَهُ سِعْراً فَذَهَبَ الْوَكِيلُ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ اذْهَبْ فَبِعْ وَ ك

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When things were given in the control of Joseph ibn Ya’qub (a.s.), he placed the grain in houses (storage) and issued an order to his servants to sell for a price of such and such amount. Prices were fixed. When he learned that prices are high he disliked to speak of high prices and t

غَلَاءُ السِّعْرِ يُسِي‌ءُ الْخُلُقَ وَ يُذْهِبُ الْأَمَانَةَ وَ يُضْجِرُ الْمَرْءَ الْمُسْلِمَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘High prices worsens moral discipline, destroy trust and cause suffering to the Muslims.’”

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِنِّي أَراكُمْ بِخَيْرٍ[1] قَالَ كَانَ سِعْرُهُمْ رَخِيصاً.

“About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘I see you in goodness . . . (11:84) He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a reference to their prices.”