Business Transactions

Al-Miqdam ibn Ma‘dikarib reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘No one has ever eaten food better than that which he earns with his own hands. The Prophet of Allah, David (peace be upon him), used to eat from the work of his own hands.’ Al-Bukhari transmitted it. Its listed grading is sahih (al-Albani).

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘Allah is good and accepts only what is good. Allah commanded the believers with what He commanded the messengers, saying: “O messengers, eat of the good things and act righteously” (Qur’an 23:51). And He said: “O you who believe, eat of the good things We have provided for you” (Qur’an 2:172).’ Then he mentioned a man who travels for a long time, disheveled and dusty, stretching his hands toward heaven and saying, ‘My Lord, my Lord,’ while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he has been nourished with the unlawful. ‘So how can his supplication be answered?’ Muslim transmitted it. Its listed grading is sahih (al-Albani).

Abu Hurayrah also reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘A time will come upon people when a person will not care whether what he takes is lawful or unlawful.’ Al-Bukhari transmitted it. Its listed grading is sahih (al-Albani).

Al-Nu‘man ibn Bashir reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘The lawful is clear and the unlawful is clear, and between them are doubtful matters that many people do not know. Whoever avoids the doubtful matters safeguards his religion and his honor, while whoever falls into doubtful matters falls into the unlawful—like a shepherd grazing around a protected pasture who is bound to graze in it. Every king has a protected pasture, and Allah’s protected pasture is what He has forbidden. There is a piece of flesh in the body which, if sound, makes the whole body sound, and if corrupt, makes the whole body corrupt. It is the heart.’ It is agreed upon.

Rafi‘ ibn Khadij reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘The price of a dog is vile, the bridal payment of an adulteress is vile, and the earnings of a cupper are vile.’ Muslim transmitted it. Its listed grading is sahih (al-Albani).

Abu Mas‘ud al-Ansari reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) forbade the price of a dog, the bridal payment of an adulteress, and the fee paid to a soothsayer. It is agreed upon. Its listed grading is agreed upon (al-Albani).

Abu Juhayfah reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) forbade the price of blood, the price of a dog, and the earnings of an adulteress. He cursed the one who consumes usury and the one who pays it, the tattooist and the one who receives a tattoo, and the image-maker. Al-Bukhari transmitted it. Its listed grading is sahih (al-Albani).

Jabir reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) say in the year of the Conquest, while he was in Makkah: ‘Allah and His Messenger have forbidden the sale of wine, carrion, pigs, and idols.’ It was asked: ‘Messenger of Allah, what about the fat of carrion? Ships are coated with it, hides are greased with it, and people use it for lamps.’ He replied: ‘No, it is forbidden.’ Then he said on that occasion: ‘May Allah fight the Jews! When Allah forbade them its fat, they melted it down, sold it, and consumed its price.’ It is agreed upon.

‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘May Allah fight the Jews! Fat was forbidden to them, so they melted it down and sold it.’ It is agreed upon.

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) forbade the price of a dog and a cat. Muslim transmitted it. Its listed grading is sahih (al-Albani).

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Abu Taybah cupped the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), so he was given a sa‘ of dates, and he instructed his family to reduce the levy due from him. It is agreed upon.

‘A’ishah reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘The best thing you eat is what you earn, and your children are part of what you earn.’ Al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah transmitted it. In a version by Abu Dawud and al-Darimi: ‘The best thing a man eats is what he earns, and his child is part of what he earns.’ Its listed grading is sahih (al-Albani).

‘Abd Allah ibn Mas‘ud reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘A servant does not acquire unlawful wealth and then give some of it in charity and have it accepted; nor does he spend from it and receive blessing in it; nor does he leave it behind him without it becoming provisions for him on the way to the Fire. Allah does not erase evil with evil; rather, He erases evil with good. The impure does not erase the impure.’ Ahmad transmitted it; it is also found in Sharh al-Sunnah. Its listed grading has not been studied (al-Albani).

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘No flesh that has grown from ill-gotten gain will enter Paradise. Any flesh that has grown from ill-gotten gain is more deserving of the Fire.’ Ahmad, al-Darimi, and al-Bayhaqi transmitted it in Shu‘ab al-Iman. Its listed grading has not been studied (al-Albani).

Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported: I memorized these words from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace): ‘Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt, for truthfulness brings tranquility, while lying brings doubt.’ Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi, and al-Nasa’i transmitted it; al-Darimi transmitted the first part. Its listed grading is sahih (al-Albani).

Wabisah ibn Ma‘bad reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘Wabisah, have you come to ask about righteousness and sin?’ I replied: ‘Yes.’ He brought his fingers together, struck his chest, and said: ‘Consult yourself; consult your heart’—three times. ‘Righteousness is that with which the soul is at ease and the heart is at ease. Sin is what troubles the soul and wavers in the breast, even if people give you a ruling.’ Ahmad and al-Darimi transmitted it. Its listed grading has not been studied (al-Albani).

‘Atiyyah al-Sa‘di reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘A servant does not attain the rank of the Godfearing until he gives up what is harmless to him, out of caution against what is harmful to him.’ Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Its listed grading is hasan (al-Albani).

Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) cursed ten people in connection with wine: the one who presses it, the one who has it pressed, the one who drinks it, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who consumes its price, the one who buys it, and the one for whom it is bought. Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Its listed grading has not been studied (al-Albani).

Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ‘Allah has cursed wine, the one who drinks it, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who buys it, the one who presses it, the one who has it pressed, the one who carries it, and the one to whom it is carried.’ Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Its listed grading is sahih (al-Albani).

Mihyasah reported that he asked the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) for permission to take payment for cupping. He forbade him, but Mihyasah kept asking until he said: ‘Feed your water-carrying camel with it, and feed your slaves.’ Malik, al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Its listed grading has not been studied (al-Albani).