Comments on: The Little Book of…

By: AbdelRahman Elsayed Morsey

AbdelRahman Elsayed Morsey — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:03:55 +0000

I can’t seem to find a specific hadith about this, but what I know is in Shafi’i Fiqh there is something called “al-Najash” which is unlawful (Haraam). al-Najash is when someone not actually interested in a buying the product but just bidding up the price too fool the bidder.
“It is unlawful to bid up the price of a piece of merchandise that one is not really interested in, to fool another bidder.” (Umdat as-Saalik, Book of Trade, k4.8)

The book doesn’t mention the sources of how scholars of shafi’i madhhab arrived at this ruling (or else the book will be VOLUMES long), but even if there is no specific hadith that specifically forbids fooling people bidders, I am sure qiyas (reasoning) can be applied using other ahadith with more general principles of honesty, truth, and trustworthiness in trade and business transactions.

By: Majid Mirza

Majid Mirza — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:05:25 +0000

What kind of narrations could we include in the book about auctions?

By: Majid

Majid — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:04:40 +0000

Alhamdolillah. Glad you found it useful Abdel-Rahman. Do you remember any character traits, sayings or teachings of the Rasool (saw) that could go into the Little Book of Islamic Business Ethics?

By: AbdelRahman Elsayed Morsey

AbdelRahman Elsayed Morsey — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:33:18 +0000

I think a good thing to add to the list is “Ethics in Auctions.”

By: AbdelRahman Elsayed Morsey

AbdelRahman Elsayed Morsey — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:27:21 +0000

This is a very interesting read, as well as all the comments.

I have always wondered what did Muslim merchants exactly do so that through them Islam was spread in places like Indonesia (largest Muslim country in the world where not a single sword was lifted). This page made me realize a bit closer how very appealing and standing out a truly honest and sincere person can be. SubhanAllah. If only there are many Muslim entrepreneurs and businessmen in the West that implement the teachings of Islam in their trade.

By: Majid Mirza

Majid Mirza — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:12:35 +0000

FYI here is the link for the hadith above:

http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/437/

By: Majid Mirza

Majid Mirza — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:10:15 +0000

Absolutely Rhyan. The word “networking” seems so artificial and self-interested. Shouldn’t all human beings greet each other, make polite conversation and try to help each other in whatever way possible, regardless of business consequences? I guess that’s why so many people use the phrase “relationship-building” now. Awesome point mashAllah.

By: Majid Mirza

Majid Mirza — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:07:26 +0000

Salam Adnan:

Your point about financing is something I’ve heard repeated over and over again. The Western Venture Capital system has brainwashed the world into believing you can’t start a business until you have millions of $ in your bank account.

Now compare this to this story of Abdur Rahman b. Auf who rebuilt his wealth in Madina, not by seeking millions in capital investment, but by asking “is there a marketplace here where people trade?” SubhanAllah!

“When we came to Medina, the Messenger of God established bonds of brotherhood between me and Sa’d b. al-Rabee. Sa’d said: ‘I am the wealthiest of the Ansar[1], so I will give you half of all my wealth. And see which of my wives you prefer, I will divorce her for you, and when she becomes lawful (as a divorcee), you can marry her.’ I (Abdur-Rahman) said to him: ‘I do not need that. (But tell me), is there a marketplace here where people trade?’ Sa‘ad said: ‘There is the marketplace of Qaynuqa’… And so, the following day Abdur-Rahman went to the market to begin trading. Before long, he was once again wealthy, as he had been in Mecca, and able to marry of his own accord.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

By: Majid Mirza

Majid Mirza — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:52:49 +0000

Wow David… your questions just opened up my mind. Kind of a scary notion if you’re selling clothes and they actually look bad on the customer. The only way this would from an Islamic standpoint, is if your customer was your wife (then you could lie!)

By: Rhyan

Rhyan — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:27:00 +0000

Networking with Iklas: I think all too often in North American business, the quality of being insincere and sly with your social networking is seen as a virtue. Business people will often show great interest in another person simply because of what they can get out of them, and then go back-bite about that same person when it is strategic. I think your book should have a section on bridging the Islamic value of sincerity between one’s self, others and their particular field of business.