Chapter on Trade, Its Etiquettes, Virtues, and Jurisprudence

التِّجَارَةُ تَزِيدُ فِي الْعَقْلِ[3]

تَرْكُ التِّجَارَةِ مَذْهَبَةٌ لِلْعَقْلِ[1]

لِي اغْدُ إِلَى عِزِّكَ‌[2].

Hadith.3719 - It is narrated from Al-Mu'alla ibn Khunays that he said: Abu Abdillah (as) saw me when I had delayed going to the market, so Imam (as) said to me, "Go early to your source of honor."

كَانُوا أَصْحَابَ تِجَارَةٍ فَإِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ تَرَكُوا التِّجَارَةَ وَ انْطَلَقُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَ هُمْ أَعْظَمُ أَجْراً مِمَّنْ لَمْ يَتَّجِرْ.

Hadith.3720 - It is narrated from Rawh ibn Abd Al-Rahim, from Abu Abdillah (as), regarding the saying of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Exalted: "Men whom neither trade nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah (swt)." (Surah An-Nur 24:37) Imam (as) said: "They were businessmen, but when the time for prayer arrived

أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا فَعَلَ عُمَرُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ‌[3] قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى الْعِبَادَةِ وَ تَرَكَ التِّجَارَةَ فَقَالَ وَيْحَهُ أَ مَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ تَارِكَ الطَّلَبِ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُ دَعْوَةٌ- إِنَّ قَوْماً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ- وَ مَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجاً وَ يَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ‌ أَغْلَقُوا الْأَبْوَابَ وَ أَقْبَلُوا عَلَى الْ

Abu Abdillah (as) asked: "What has Umar ibn Muslim done?" I said: "May I be your ransom! He has devoted himself to worship and abandoned trade." Imam (as) said: "Woe to him! Does he not know that the one who abandons seeking sustenance will not have his supplication answered? Indeed, some of the companions of the Messe

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ اتَّجِرُوا بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ إِنَّ الرِّزْقَ عَشَرَةُ أَجْزَاءٍ تِسْعَةٌ فِي التِّجَارَةِ وَ وَاحِدٌ فِي غَيْرِهَا[4].

Hadith.3722 - The Commander of the Faithful (as) said: "Engage in trade - may Allah (swt) bless you - for I heard the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) say, 'Provision is divided into ten parts, nine of which are in trade, and one in other means.'"

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ تَعَرَّضُوا لِلتِّجَارَةِ فَإِنَّ فِيهَا لَكُمْ غِنًى عَمَّا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ‌[1].

Hadith.3723 - The Commander of the Faithful (as) said: "Engage in trade, for in it lies independence from what is in the hands of others."

لَا تَدَعُوا التِّجَارَةَ فَتَهُونُوا[2] اتَّجِرُوا بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ- رَوَى ذَلِكَ شَرِيفُ بْنُ سَابِقٍ التَّفْلِيسِيُّ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ أَبِي قُرَّةَ السَّمَنْدِيِ

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَنِ اتَّجَرَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ارْتَطَمَ فِي الرِّبَا ثُمَّ ارْتَطَمَ فَلَا يَقْعُدَنَّ فِي السُّوقِ إِلَّا مَنْ يَعْقِلُ الشِّرَاءَ وَ الْبَيْعَ‌[3].

Hadith.3725 - The Commander of the Faithful (as) said: "Whoever engages in trade without knowledge will fall into usury, and then fall into it again. Therefore, no one should sit in the marketplace except one who understands buying and selling."

وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع‌[4]- بِالْكُوفَةِ يَغْتَدِي كُلَّ بُكْرَةٍ فَيَطُوفُ فِي أَسْوَاقِ الْكُوفَةِ سُوقاً سُوقاً وَ مَعَهُ الدِّرَّةُ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ وَ كَانَ لَهَا طَرَفَانِ وَ كَانَتْ تُسَمَّى السَّبِيبَةَ[5] قَالَ فَيَقِفُ عَلَى أَهْلِ كُلِّ سُوقٍ فَيُنَادِيهِمْ يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ[6] قَدِّمُوا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ وَ تَبَرَّكُوا بِالسُّهُولَةِ[7] وَ اقْتَرِبُوا مِنَ الْمُبْتَاعِينَ وَ تَزَيَّنُوا بِالْحِلْمِ وَ تَج

Hadith.3726 - Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) used to go out every morning in Kufa and walk through its markets, visiting them one by one. Imam (as) carried a whip with two ends, which was called "Al-Sabeebah." Imam (as) would stand in each market and call out to the merchants, saying: "O group of traders! Begin with seeki

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌[2] مَنْ بَاعَ وَ اشْتَرَى فَلْيَحْفَظْ خَمْسَ خِصَالٍ وَ إِلَّا فَلَا يَشْتَرِيَنَّ وَ لَا يَبِيعَنَّ الرِّبَا وَ الْحَلْفَ وَ كِتْمَانَ الْعُيُوبِ وَ الْمَدْحَ إِذَا بَاعَ وَ الذَّمَّ إِذَا اشْتَرَى‌[3].

Hadith.3727 - The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Whoever buys and sells should observe five qualities; otherwise, let him not buy or sell: usury, swearing, concealing defects, praising when selling, and criticizing when buying."

يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ ارْفَعُوا رُءُوسَكُمْ فَقَدْ وَضَحَ لَكُمُ الطَّرِيقُ تُبْعَثُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فُجَّاراً إِلَّا مَنْ صَدَقَ حَدِيثُهُ

التَّاجِرُ فَاجِرٌ وَ الْفَاجِرُ فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا مَنْ أَخَذَ الْحَقَّ وَ أَعْطَى الْحَقَّ

قَالَ ع‌ يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ صُونُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ[4] تُكَفَّرْ عَنْكُمْ ذُنُوبُكُمْ وَ أَيْمَانَكُمُ الَّتِي تَحْلِفُونَ فِيهَا تُطَيَّبْ لَكُمْ تِجَارَتُكُمْ.

Hadith.3730 - Imam (as) said: "O group of traders, protect your wealth through charity, your sins will be forgiven, and the oaths you make will be purified for you-thus your trade will be blessed."

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيّاً ع يَقُولُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ- يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ الْفِقْهَ ثُمَّ الْمَتْجَرَ[1] الْفِقْهَ ثُمَّ الْمَتْجَرَ وَ اللَّهِ لَلرِّبَا فِي هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ دَبِيبٌ أَخْفَى مِنْ دَبِيبِ النَّمْلِ عَلَى الصَّفَا صُونُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ[2] التَّاجِرُ فَاجِرٌ وَ الْفَاجِرُ فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا مَنْ أَخَذَ الْحَقَّ وَ أَعْطَى الْحَقَّ.

I heard Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) saying from the pulpit: "O group of traders! Learn jurisprudence, then engage in trade. Learn jurisprudence, then engage in trade. By Allah (swt), usury in this nation is more hidden than the crawling of an ant on a smooth stone. Protect your wealth through charity. The trader is sin

لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع دَفَعَتْ إِلَيَّ امْرَأَتِي مَالًا أَعْمَلُ بِهِ مَا شِئْتُ فَأَشْتَرِي مِنْ مَالِهَا الْجَارِيَةَ أَطَأُهَا قَالَ لَا إِنَّمَا دَفَعَتْ إِلَيْكَ لِتَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَ أَنْتَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُسْخِنَ عَيْنَهَا[3].

I said to Abu Abdillah (as), "My wife gave me money to use as I wish. Can I buy a bondwoman with her money and have relations with her?" Imam (as) said: "No. She gave it to you to bring comfort to her eyes, and you intend to cause her distress."

لَهُ يَجِيئُنِي الرَّجُلُ فَيَقُولُ تَشْتَرِي لِي فَيَكُونُ مَا عِنْدِي خَيْراً مِنْ مَتَاعِ السُّوقِ قَالَ إِنْ أَمِنْتَ أَلَّا يَتَّهِمَكَ فَأَعْطِهِ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَ إِنْ خِفْتَ أَنْ يَتَّهِمَكَ فَاشْتَرِ لَهُ مِنَ السُّوقِ.

I said to Him (as): "A man comes to me and asks me to buy something for him, but what I have is better than what is available in the market. What should I do?" Imam (as) said: "If you are confident that he will not suspect you, then give him from what you have. But if you fear that he might suspect you, then buy for hi

أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى بَعْضِ أَنْبِيَائِهِ ع لِلْكَرِيمِ فَكَارِمْ[5] وَ لِلسَّمْحِ فَسَامِحْ وَ لِلشَّحِيحِ فَشَاحِحْ وَ عِنْدَ الشَّكِسِ فَالْتَوِ[1].

يَقُولُ السَّمَاحُ وَجْهٌ مِنَ الرَّبَاحِ قَالَ ع ذَلِكَ لِرَجُلٍ يُوصِيهِ وَ مَعَهُ سِلْعَةٌ يَبِيعُهَا[2]

وَ مَرَّ عَلِيٌّ ع عَلَى جَارِيَةٍ قَدِ اشْتَرَتْ لَحْماً مِنْ قَصَّابٍ وَ هِيَ تَقُولُ زِدْنِي فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع زِدْهَا فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لِلْبَرَكَةِ[3].

Hadith.3736 - Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) passed by a bondwoman who had bought meat from a butcher and was asking him to add more. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said to the butcher: "Give her more, for it brings greater blessings."

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يُحِبُّ الْعَبْدَ يَكُونُ سَهْلَ الْبَيْعِ سَهْلَ الشِّرَاءِ سَهْلَ الْقَضَاءِ سَهْلَ الِاقْتِضَاءِ[4]

أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ أَقَالَ مُسْلِماً نَدَامَةً فِي الْبَيْعِ أَقَالَهُ اللَّهُ عَثْرَتَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ[5]

قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع‌ مَرَّ النَّبِيُّ ص عَلَى رَجُلٍ وَ مَعَهُ سِلْعَةٌ يُرِيدُ بَيْعَهَا فَقَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِأَوَّلِ السُّوقِ.

Hadith.3739 - Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) passed by a man who had goods he wanted to sell and said to him, "Go to the beginning of the market."

قَالَ ع‌ صَاحِبُ السِّلْعَةِ أَحَقُّ بِالسَّوْمِ‌[6].

Hadith.3740 - Imam (as) said: "The owner of the goods has more right to set the price."

وَ نَهَى ص عَنِ السَّوْمِ مَا بَيْنَ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ إِلَى طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ‌[7].

Hadith.3741 - The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) forbade trading between the rise of dawn and the rise of the sun.

مَاكِسِ الْمُشْتَرِيَ فَإِنَّهُ أَطْيَبُ لِلنَّفْسِ وَ إِنْ أَعْطَى الْجَزِيلَ[1] فَإِنَّ الْمَغْبُونَ فِي بَيْعِهِ وَ شِرَائِهِ غَيْرُ مَحْمُودٍ وَ لَا مَأْجُورٍ

قَالَ ع‌ لَا تُمَاكِسْ فِي أَرْبَعَةِ أَشْيَاءَ فِي الْأُضْحِيَّةِ وَ فِي الْكَفَنِ وَ فِي ثَمَنِ نَسَمَةٍ وَ فِي الْكِرَى إِلَى مَكَّةَ[2].

Hadith.3743 - Imam (as) said: "Do not bargain in four things; the sacrificial animal, the shroud, the price of freeing a slave, and the fare to Makkah."

لِقَهْرَمَانِهِ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَشْتَرِيَ لِي مِنْ حَوَائِجِ اَلْحَجِّ شَيْئاً فَاشْتَرِ وَ لاَ تُمَاكِسْ

Hadith.3744 - Imam Ali ibn Al-Hussain Zayn Al-Abidin (as) used to say to his steward: "If you intend to buy something for me from the needs of Hajj, then buy it and do not bargain."

لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ نِيَّتِهِ الْوَفَاءُ وَ هُوَ إِذَا كَالَ لَمْ يُحْسِنْ أَنْ يَكِيلَ فَقَالَ مَا يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ حَوْلَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ لَا يُوفِي قَالَ هُوَ مِمَّنْ لَا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَكِيلَ‌[5].

I said to him, "A man intends to be honest, but when he measures, he does not measure accurately." He (as) asked: "What do those around him say?" I said: "They say he does not give full measure." He (as) said: "He is among those who should not be measuring."

مَنْ أَخَذَ الْمِيزَانَ بِيَدِهِ فَنَوَى أَنْ يَأْخُذَ لِنَفْسِهِ وَافِياً لَمْ يَأْخُذْهُ إِلَّا رَاجِحاً وَ مَنْ أَعْطَى فَنَوَى أَنْ يُعْطِيَ

لَا يَكُونُ الْوَفَاءُ حَتَّى يَمِيلَ اللِّسَانُ[2].

فِي خَبَرٍ آخَرَ لَا يَكُونُ الْوَفَاءُ حَتَّى يَرْجَحَ‌[3].

Hadith.3748 - And in another narration: "Fulfillment (of measure) is not achieved until it exceeds (the exact amount)."

لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع آخُذُ الدَّرَاهِمَ مِنَ الرَّجُلِ فَأَزِنُهَا ثُمَّ أُفَرِّقُهَا وَ يَفْضُلُ فِي يَدِي مِنْهَا فَضْلٌ قَالَ أَ لَيْسَ تَحَرَّى الْوَفَاءَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ‌[4]. العربون‌[5]

I said to Abu Abdillah (as), "I receive dirhams from a man, weigh them, then distribute them, and a surplus remains in my hand. What should I do?" Imam (as) said: "Did you not strive to be accurate in your measure?" I said: "Yes." Imam (as) said: "Then there is no harm."

لَا يَجُوزُ الْعَرَبُونُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ نَقْداً مِنَ الثَّمَنِ[6].