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Prophet Muhammed's ﷺ Business Etiquette*
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In Islam, trade has always been recognised as an important aspect of human life. Before revelation came to Prophet ﷺ, he earned his living as a trader. His integrity and veracity were quickly noticed by his employer, Sayyida Khadijah (RA), who later married him.
*★ Sadiq and Ameen*
It was a result of his ﷺ honesty and noble character that he ﷺ was called as 'Sadiq' (truthful) and 'Ameen' (trustworthy) amongst the Makkans.
Hazrat Abu Sufianؓ (the bitterest enemy of Islam before he accepted Islam) said: "It is inconceivable for one who has never told a lie during his whole life to invent lies against Allah ﷻ.
The Makkans agreed unanimously that Allah's Messenger ﷺ was a truthful person. Once before his conversion, Yasir (ra) asked his son Ammar (ra), where he was going. Ammar (ra) said that he was going to the Prophet ﷺ. Being fully satisfied of his son's safety while with him ﷺ, he replied: "Muhammad ﷺ is a trustworthy person. The Makkans recognise him so, if he claims Prophethood he ﷺ must be telling the truth, for no one has ever heard him tell a lie."
Even though Makkans didn't believe in Islam, they trusted Prophet ﷺ so much that they used to keep their precious goods as an 'Amanah' with him, because they knew that he ﷺ was 'al Ameen', he ﷺ was never going to betray them. At the time of Hijrah also, before leaving he ﷺ gave the responsibility to Hazrat Ali (ra) of distributing the goods which were with him ﷺ of the Makkans.
*★ Best livelihood:*
Rafi' bin Khadij (RA) says that Prophet Muhammed ﷺ was asked about the best livelihood, he ﷺ said, "working with one's own hands to earn one's livelihood, and trade in which dishonesty and falsehood do not find any place." _(Mishkat)._
Alhamdulillah the Prophet ﷺ taught us the best way in every aspect of life. He ﷺ not only showed the way of life but also informed us about the rewards we will get In Sha Allah if we follow his ﷺ teachings. Hence mentioning a Hadith in this regard is: Abu Sayeed Qudri (RA) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that the honest and trustworthy traders shall be with the Prophets, Siddiqs and the Martyrs." _(Tirmizi)_.
Subhan Allah!
*★ Correct way of selling/dealing:*
Prophet Muhammed ﷺ said: "A merchant who hoards goods in order to raise their prices is a sinner." _(Muslim)_
He ﷺ also said: "It is required for the vendor to tell the buyer about any defects of which he is aware." _(Ibn Hanbal)_
The traders have been instructed to honestly tell the purchaser the faults (defects) of the object he is selling.
The Prophet ﷺ passed by a trader selling cereals. He ﷺ dipped his hand into the heap of the grain and discovered that the grains below the surface were wet. He ﷺ asked the trader to explain. He said in reply that it got wet in shower. The Prophet ﷺ asked him, "why did you conceal it and why did you not keep the wet grains exposed (so that it is visible to the purchaser)." Then he ﷺ said, "those who resort to fraud are not one of us (the community of believers)."
*★ Way of employing:*
The holy Prophet ﷺ cursed the one who employs a labourer and gets the full work done by him but does not pay him his wages. _(Bukhari)_
In another beautiful Hadith the Allah's Messenger ﷺ taught us the beautiful way to treat labourers. "Pay the labourer his wages even before his sweat dries." _(Ibn Majah)_
Source: the above is partly taken from whatsapp forward