The Excellence of An Honest and Trustworthy Merchant

The Excellence of An Honest and Trustworthy Merchant

عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم: « التَّاجِرُ الأَمِينُ الصَّدُوقُ الْمُسْلِمُ مَعَ الشُّهَدَاءِ – وفي رواية: مع النبيين و الصديقين و الشهداء –  يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ » رواه ابن ماجه والحاكم والدارقطني وغيرهم

“From Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar -may Allah be pleased with him- that Allah’s messenger -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said, “The trustworthy, honest Muslim merchant will be with the Prophets, the honest men, and martyrs on the Day of Resurrection. ’’[1]

This great hadith signifies the great excellence of a merchant who possesses these qualities, because he will be honored with excellences and high position in the side of Allah the Holy and Exalted, by his being with the Prophets, the honest men, and the martyrs on the Day of Resurrection. Imam ath Thiibi commented this hadith, saying, “Whoever always prioritize the honesty and trustworthy, then he is among those who obey (Allah the Holy and Exalted); from the honest men and the martyrs, but whoever chooses the lies and betrayal, will be among those who rebel (against Allah the Holy and Exalted); from the evil men (who are indecent in their religion) or the wicked.” [2]

There are important points that we could infer from this hadith:

• The meaning of honesty and trustworthy in trading is in giving the information regarding the occurring trade, and explanation about the defect or imperfection of the traded merchandise, if it has any. [3]
• This attitude is what brings blessing and goodness in trading, as the saying of the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- , ” If they (sellers and buyers) are honest and they explain (the condition of merchandise or the payment), then Allah will bless them both in that transaction. But if they lie and conceal (it), then it will lose it’s blessings.” [4]
• Selling the lawful things together with adapting the praiseworthy qualities mentioned in this hadith is a preferred and suggested by the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him and his companions, as mentioned in a valid hadith [5]. As for hadith “Ninety percent (90%) of sustenance comes from trading”,it is a weak hadith, as explained by Sheikh Al Albani [6].
• The meaning of excellence in this hadith….”with the Prophet, the honest men, and the martyrs at the Resurrection Day (later)”, it doesn’t mean that his level and position will be even with their levels and positions, but it means that they will be gathered in their group, as Allah the Holy and Exalted decreed:

  وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَئِكَ رَفِيقًا. ذَلِكَ الْفَضْلُ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ عَلِيمًا

  “He who obeys Allah and the Messenger – such shall be with those whom Allah has favoured – the Prophets, those steadfast in truthfulness, the martyrs, and the righteous. How excellent will they be for companions! That is a bounty from Allah, and Allah suffices to know the truth.” (QS an-Nisaa’/The Women: 69-70)[7].

وصلى الله وسلم وبارك على نبينا محمد وآله وصحبه أجمعين، وآخر دعوانا أن الحمد لله رب العالمين

Kendari city, 11 Jumadal Akhir 1433 H

Author: Abdullah bin Taslim al-Buthoni

Notes:

[1] Narrated by Ibn Maja (no, 2139) , al Hakim (no. 2142) and ad Daruquthni (no. 17), there is a weakness in it’s narrational chain, but there is another hadith that supports it, from Abu Sa’id al Khudri -may Allah be please with him-, narrated by at Tirmidhi (no. 1209), etc. Thus Imam adz Dzahabi and Sheikh Al Albani decided it as a good hadith (See: “ash Shahihah” no. 3453.
[2]. See: “Syarhu sunani Ibni Majah” (page. 155).
[3]. See: “Faidhul Qadiir” (3/278).
[4]. Narrated by al Bukhari (no. 1973) and Muslim (no. 1532).
[5]. Narrated by ath Thabrani in ““al-Mu’jamul kabiir” (23/300, no. 674) and Sheikh al Albani stated that it is a good (or valid) hadith, in his work ““Silsilatul ahaa-ditsish shahiihah” (no. 2929).
[6]. In “Silsilatul ahaa-ditsidh dha’iifah” (no. 3402).
[7]. See the explanation of Imam Adz Dzahabi in ““Miizaanul i’tidaal” (3/413).

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