Chapter on Trade, Its Etiquettes, Virtues, and Jurisprudence
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 2|Chapter 3
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Volume 3, Book 2, Chapter 3
Chapter on Trade, Its Etiquettes, Virtues, and Jurisprudence
وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ، بِالْكُوفَةِ يَغْتَدِي كُلَّ بُكْرَةٍ فَيَطُوفُ فِي أَسْوَاقِ اَلْكُوفَةِ سُوقاً سُوقاً وَ مَعَهُ اَلدِّرَّةُ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ وَ كَانَ لَهَا طَرَفَانِ وَ كَانَتْ تُسَمَّى اَلسَّبِيبَةَ قَالَ فَيَقِفُ عَلَى أَهْلِ كُلِّ سُوقٍ فَيُنَادِيهِمْ "يَا مَعْشَرَ اَلتُّجَّارِ قَدِّمُوا اَلاِسْتِخَارَةَ وَ تَبَرَّكُوا بِالسُّهُولَةِ وَ اِقْتَرِبُوا مِنَ اَلْمُبْتَاعِينَ وَ تَزَيَّنُوا بِالْحِلْمِ وَ تَجَافَوْا عَنِ اَلظُّلْمِ وَ أَنْصِفُوا اَلْمَظْلُومِينَ وَ لاَ تَقْرَبُوا اَلرِّبَا "وَ أَوْفُوا اَلْكَيْلَ وَ اَلْمِيزٰانَ" "وَ لاٰ تَبْخَسُوا اَلنّٰاسَ أَشْيٰاءَهُمْ وَ لاٰ تَعْثَوْا فِي اَلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ" " قَالَ فَيَطُوفُ فِي جَمِيعِ أَسْوَاقِ اَلْكُوفَةِ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فَيَقْعُدُ لِلنَّاسِ.
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.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh