Chapter on Trade, Its Etiquettes, Virtues, and Jurisprudence

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Abandoning trade diminishes intellect."

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

It is narrated from Rawh ibn Abd Al-Rahim, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, regarding the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Exalted: "Men whom neither trade nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah سبحانه وتعالى." (Surah An-Nur 24:37) Imam عليه السلام said: "They were businessmen, but when the time for prayer arrived, they left their trade and went to perform the prayer. They are greater in reward than those who did not engage in trade."

Harun ibn Hamzah narrated from Ali ibn Abdul Aziz who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام asked: "What has Umar ibn Muslim done?" I said: "May I be your ransom! He has devoted himself to worship and abandoned trade." Imam عليه السلام 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 Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family), when the verse was revealed; 'And whoever fears Allah سبحانه وتعالى, He will make a way out for him, and provide for him from where he does not expect' (Surah At-Talaq 65:2-3), they locked their doors and devoted themselves to worship, saying, 'We have been guaranteed provision.' When the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) heard about this, he sent for them and said: 'What led you to do what you have done?' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Exalted, has guaranteed our provision, so we have devoted ourselves to worship.' He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: 'Whoever does this, Allah سبحانه وتعالى will not answer his supplication. You must continue seeking sustenance.' Then Imam عليه السلام said: 'I hate a man who sits idle, opening his mouth to his Lord عز وجل, saying, "Provide for me," while he abandons seeking sustenance.'"

The Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام said: "Engage in trade - may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless you - for I heard the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (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.'"

The Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام said: "Engage in trade, for in it lies independence from what is in the hands of others."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Do not abandon trade, lest you become insignificant. Engage in trade-may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless you."

The Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام 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."

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام used to go out every morning in Kufa and walk through its markets, visiting them one by one. Imam عليه السلام carried a whip with two ends, which was called "Al-Sabeebah." Imam عليه السلام would stand in each market and call out to the merchants, saying: "O group of traders! Begin with seeking goodness (from Allah سبحانه وتعالى), bless your trade with ease, draw near to the buyers, adorn yourselves with patience, avoid oppression, give justice to the oppressed, and do not approach usury. 'And give full measure and weight' and 'Do not diminish people's goods, nor act corruptly in the land, making mischief.'" Then Imam عليه السلام would continue walking through all the markets of Kufa before returning to sit and attend to the people's needs.

The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (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."

The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) said: "O group of traders, raise your heads, for the path has been made clear for you. You will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment as transgressors, except those who speak the truth."

The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) said: "The trader is sinful, and the sinful one is in the Fire-except for the one who takes what is right and gives what is right."

Imam عليه السلام 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."

It is narrated from Al-Asbagh ibn Nubatah who said: I heard Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام saying from the pulpit: "O group of traders! Learn jurisprudence, then engage in trade. Learn jurisprudence, then engage in trade. By Allah سبحانه وتعالى, 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 sinful, and the sinful one is in the Fire-except the one who takes what is right and gives what is right."

Hafs ibn Al-Bakhtari narrated from Al-Husayn ibn Al-Mundhir who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, "My wife gave me money to use as I wish. Can I buy a bondwoman with her money and have relations with her?" Imam عليه السلام said: "No. She gave it to you to bring comfort to her eyes, and you intend to cause her distress."

Uthman ibn Isa narrated from Muyassir who said: I said to Him عليه السلام: "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 عليه السلام 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 him from the market."

Isma'il ibn Muslim narrated from Abu Abdillah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام, who said: Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, revealed to one of His prophets (peace be upon them): "Deal generously with the generous, be lenient with the lenient, be tight-fisted with the stingy, and be evasive with the harsh."

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: I heard the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) say, "Leniency is a means of profit." Imam عليه السلام then said: "This applies to a man who is advised while he has goods to sell."

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام passed by a bondwoman who had bought meat from a butcher and was asking him to add more. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said to the butcher: "Give her more, for it brings greater blessings."

The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Blessed and Exalted, loves a servant who is easygoing in selling, easygoing in buying, easygoing in settling debts, and easygoing in demanding repayment."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Any Muslim who cancels a sale for another Muslim who regrets it, Allah سبحانه وتعالى will cancel his slip on the Day of Judgment."

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام 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."

Imam عليه السلام said: "The owner of the goods has more right to set the price."

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

Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام said: "Bargain with the buyer, for it is more satisfying to the soul. Even if he gives generously, the one who is cheated in buying or selling is neither praiseworthy nor rewarded."

Imam عليه السلام said: "Do not bargain in four things; the sacrificial animal, the shroud, the price of freeing a slave, and the fare to Makkah."

Imam Ali ibn Al-Hussain Zayn Al-Abidin عليه السلام 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."

Muyassir narrated from Hafs, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, who said: I said to him, "A man intends to be honest, but when he measures, he does not measure accurately." He عليه السلام asked: "What do those around him say?" I said: "They say he does not give full measure." He عليه السلام said: "He is among those who should not be measuring."

Ishaq ibn Ammar narrated from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام who said: "Whoever takes the scales in his hand with the intention of taking a full measure for himself will only take more than his due. And whoever gives with the intention of giving an equal measure will only give less."

Hammad ibn Bashir narrated from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام who said: "Fulfillment (of measure) is not achieved until the scale tips."

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

It is narrated from Ishaq ibn Ammar who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, "I receive dirhams from a man, weigh them, then distribute them, and a surplus remains in my hand. What should I do?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Did you not strive to be accurate in your measure?" I said: "Yes." Imam عليه السلام said: "Then there is no harm."

Wahb ibn Wahb narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام (peace be upon them), that Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام used to say: "Earnest money (down payment) is not permissible unless it is part of the price."