Business: a lost form of dawah and the forgotten path towards righteousness.

Muslims engage in numerous acts of worship, however, very seldom can they be seen by non-Muslims. Our salah, for example, is usually done within our homes or in mosques. One act of worship that isn’t hidden from non-Muslims is our business dealings. Whether we trade with others, or have a corporate job, our interactions are open for all to see. For many people, the only genuine interaction they have had with Muslims is through some sort of business dealings. In South Africa, many Muslims open shops in areas with small Muslim populations. Not only would this serve the community, but it would also act the only sustained interaction these communities had with Muslims.

With this comes the responsibility of being a representative of Islam and to act in a way that is in line with the teachings of our noble religion. If our dealings at work is corrupt, inept, unprofessional or undignified, we may inadvertently be portraying a negative image of our ethics and morals as Muslims. Trade has traditionally been a vector of dawah. Muslim traders played a pivotal role in spreading Islam to Malaysia and Indonesia which today has the largest population of Muslims. Since dawah, along with many other aspects of Islam, is enmeshed in trade it is unsurprising that the Beloved ﷺ said that “the merchants will be resurrected on the day of judgement with the wicked, except the one who has Taqwa of Allah, who behaves charitably and is truthful” (Tirmidhi). Thus, by engaging in business practices in line with Islamic teaching we will make our everyday work a means of reward, and by ignoring them a means of punishment. Three objectives to develop when involved in business related activities include:

1.      Be truthful. The Beloved ﷺ taught us that “it is obligatory for you to tell the truth, for truth leads to virtue and virtue leads to Paradise….” Being truthful even in small acts is an important indication of our ethics. This extends to even “minor” responsibilities.

2.      Do things to the best of your ability. This is because “Allah has prescribed ihsan (proficiency and excellence) in all things” (Muslim). An individual who does things with ihsan is a responsible person, a person who always does a high-quality job in a timely manner and always strives towards the best standards.

3.      Respect time. The Islamic tradition is replete with indications towards the importance of time. This means that we should give time it’s right and respect the time of those we deal with.

Allah knows best.