PROPHET MUHAMMAD IN TRADE AND BUSINESS DEALINGS Rosli, Nur Atiqah; Che Azmi, Amyza Adlina; Wan Mohd Bahruddin, Wan Athirah; Che Awang, Che Hazlinarumaizan; Amran, Nur Arifah Financial Mathematics Department Faculty Science and Technology Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Mohd Dali, Nuradli Ridzwan Shah Faculty of Economics and Muamalat Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Keywords : Sunnah, History, Business, Honesty, Success. According to the book entitled Fundamentals of Business Accounting (Wan Ibrahim, Wan Madznah et al. 2008, p8), a business is a separate entity and is distinct from its owner(s). Business is a transaction between two or more parties that involving services, trade of goods or both of consumers. Normally, it will give profit to the parties. In Islamic views, business can be defined as exchange of goods with other goods or currency. It is done according to Syarak to earn profit. Allah said in the Quran: O believers, don t you take wealth among you in a bad way, except on the basis of business of dealings that was agreed among you. (An-Nisa, verse 29) Business is categorized into a few types (Wan Ibrahim, Wan Madznah et al. 2008, p8). They are sole proprietorship, partnership and company. A sole proprietorship is a type of business that owned and run by individual. Meanwhile, partnership is an agreement with at
least two sides that share mutual interest and it can give the profit to both of them. A company is an organization or collection of individuals that share a common purpose that will make them gain profit. In Islam, we are allowed to do business but there limitation to do it. For example, Allah said in Al-Quran: O you, who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew. (Al-Jumuah, verse 9) The Prophet was sent to a village far from the city when he was still a baby. Halimatun Saadiah raised him and took care of him until the age of 5 years old. At the age of 5 he had been handed over to his mother back. Shahrill (2012) in his writing said that while under the care of his foster parents, the prophet helped those herding goats. When he was 8 years old, he lived with his uncle. His uncle took care of him after his mother and grandfather died. He helped ease the burden of his uncle by helping him herding goats. He began to acquire business experience when he was 12 years old. He joined his uncle's business trade mission to Syria, a region located in the northern peninsula of Arabia. His uncle also brought him to Bushra to do business. In Bushra he met a Christian pastor named Bahira. Bahira advised Abu Talib to supervise and take care of Muhammad while he was in Sham, worried interference from the Jews who knew the signs of his prophet hood. According to Yasin T. Al-Jibouri in his writing in September 2013, at the age of 25 years old, the prophet worked with Khadijah binti Khuwaylid after Abu Talib had promoted him to her. Khadijah needed an agent to carry out her business since she did not travel together with her trade caravans. Due to this, the prophet attended his second journey to Syria. He has managed to gain a lot of profit even though he did not have any practical business experience. He only applied his experience of accompanying his uncle twice, before he worked with Khadijah. Due to his honesty in doing business he managed to create profits and this is one the reasons that had caused Khadijah fall in love with him. 2
The Prophet was given an edge by God and endowed with various miracles, particularly Al-Qur an that is a guide for all Muslims and suitable for all ages. He also conferred the highest moral character. And the Qur an is rich with verses that confirm all this. Allah says in the Qur an: And indeed, you (the Prophet s) are of a great moral character (Surah Al-Qalam, 4). Prophet always showed good characters in running a business and managing the transaction. Among the Prophet's character in his business is always telling the truth. He never lied in the conversation as well do as it says. While managing the sale, he will inform the customer if the goods are damaged or faulty. He always observed justice and equity while he was trading and avoided telling lies and fraud, which was the practiced by many tradesmen (As-Sallaabee, 2011). Besides that, according to the book Muhammad As If You Can See Him by Abdullah al-qarni (2012) he is also trustworthy since childhood. It s proved on his last journey, he was hired by Khadijah, whose merchandise he took to Syria and returned with a great profit. That s why He became so well-known for his truthfulness and honesty that everyone who knew him acknowledged his trustworthiness and called him Muhammad Al- Amin (the trustworthy). The Prophet has expressed his strong dislike for those who do not trust. It s proved when he came upon a heap of corn in the market of Madinah and thrust his hand onto it. His fingers felt damp. On being asked, the trader replied that rain had fallen upon it. He observed, "Why did you not then keep (the wet portion of) it above the dry corn, so that men may see it? He who deceives, is not one of us." (Sahih Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 11, Number 629) Muhammad was never strict in his business dealings with others. Sa ib ibn al-sa ib relates that during the age of ignorance, I was his (the Prophet s) trade partner and I found him the best of the partners in every respect (Ehsan Yar-Shater, 1998). He neither argued with anyone nor was he obstinate and nor did he blame anything on his partner. 3
In business, there are many important aspects that should be considered in achieving success. As we know, promotion is one of the important aspects of a business. Promotion is an important two-way communication between the seller and buyer (Dalibor Bubnjević, 2011). Without proper promotion will invite a painful failure. Prophet Muhammad noticed the importance of promotion in doing business. He never preferred products with the purpose of want to lure buyers. He asserted that a good trader should keep away displaying oath or promise excessive and extravagant. Prophet Muhammad (peace is upon him) said: The seller and the buyer have the right to keep or return the goods as long as they have not parted or till they part; and if both the parties spoke the truth and described the defects and qualities [of the goods], then they would be blessed in their transaction, and if they told lies or hid something, then the blessings of their transaction would be lost. (Bukhari, No: 1937) Besides, the Prophet Muhammad is also very responsible and kind to his workers. He urges us to pay the employee wages quickly, as the Prophet said: Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries. (Tirmizi: 2987 and Ibn Majah) This hadith which is narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar RA indicates that the payment of wages should not be delayed. In the Al-Quran also stated that we should respect employee s belief: Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not or (your) faith nor drives you out of you homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: For Allah loves those who are just. (Surah Al-Mumtahanah, verse 8) In conducting business, Islam gives moral directives to its believers; so that they are always perform the right way in Islamic entrepreneurship. Among them are being honest in measuring, although when they are alone. It is because although the people cannot see their doings, but Allah is always there to watch their doings. So Islam gives a wonderful way to the people to control the wrongdoings or cheatings in the case of the person is alone. In Al- Qur an stated that: 4
And measure full when you measure. And weigh with an even balance. This is better and its end is good. (Surah Al-Isra verse 35) With the increasingly diverse expectations, management practices and skills of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through his prophetic practices as found in the Hadith and his Sunnah, contribute to provide the pathway of managing human capital development. His teaching as documented in the Hadith and practiced in his Sunnah could have been in the mind of man, both Muslim and non-muslim (Abu Samah, et al. 2011). In conclusion, Islamic business is an act of worship if done in good faith and in accordance with Islamic sharia will please Allah. Business is an economic activity that is very organized Islam to his people. This is because the yield promising business activity doubled to traders who work hard. Endeavor that is very important in life because that is the order of worship to our every act of charity, provided that we do is because of Allah. Thus if our intention to relax and dream business lucrative income solely as a result then wait for 9/10 also to be defeated if it is not working. So if you wish for sustenance result 9/10 that we should also try 9/10 to achieve the success you seek. If we really want to run a successful business and want the world and the hereafter then we must practice the way business is 100% according to the Sunnah. As the conclusion, we can take many useful lessons on how the Prophet Muhammad (peace is upon him) deals as an entrepreneur from a successful shepherd since his childhood until he led a trade mission of Siti Khadijah. He has a model of entrepreneurship principles and a vision of its own as far forward and always strive to give the best. He also showed good manners during business and always gives the best technical customer service. In addition, his character as intelligent (fatanah), honest (amanah), truthful (siddiq) and a deliver (tabligh) made him a respected entrepreneur. Last but not least, let us together infuse the intention to trade and become rich and spend us into the way of Allah, the Economic Jihad. Indeed, we are also dealers who must first connect the preachers work has been entrusted by the Prophet of Amar Ma ruf and Nahi Munkar. May we pursue riches not only at the world, but also the dayafter. 5
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http://site.gjat.my/clients/gjatmy/downloads/gjat3siti116201293234pm1.pdf [Accessed: 12 November 2013] Dr. Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabee. 2011. The Noble Life of The Prophet. Kuala Lumpur: Darussalam. Kasim, Khairul Naziya. Bijoy, Kumar. Wan Ibrahim, Wan Madznah. 2008. Fundamentals of Business Accounting. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd. Mohd Dali, N. R. S., Marzuki, A., Sabri, H., Muhammad, I., Zainuddin, M. T., Basah, M. Y. A.,... Shafii, Z. (2008). Introduction to Muamalat. Kuala Lumpur: MacGraw Hill (Asia). Narrated Anas. 2012. Translation of Sahih Bukhari. Kuala Lumpur. Volume 1, Book 11, Number 629. Ramli, Shahrill. 2012. Prophet Muhammad SAW : Ya Rasulullah, Ya Habiballah @ Maulidur-Rasul 2012 (Mesengger of Allah SWT, Love of Allah SWT) [Online]. Available at: http://undomiel84.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/prophet-muhammad-saw-ya-rasulullah-yahabiballah-maulidur-rasul-2012-mesengger-of-allah-swt-love-of-allah-swt/ [Accessed: 12 November 2013] Yar-Shater, Ehsan. 1998. The history of Al-Tabrani an annotated translation. State University of New York Press. Vol. XXXIX. Yasin Al-Jibouri. 2013. Khadija Daughter of Khuwaylid [Online]. Available at: http://www.academia.edu/4257983/khadija_daughter_of_khuwaylid [Accessed: 12 November 2013] 7