لحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على المبعوث رحمة للعالمين، وعلى آله وصحبه ومن دعى بدعوته واستن بسنته إلى يوم الدين
Assalāmu Alaykum Warahmatullāh Wabarakātuh, Beloved brothers and sisters in the Dīn.
We welcome us all to this week’s session of the Halqah and we ask Allah to bless and guide us all through it, Āmīn. Bārakallāhu Fīkum
We have been discussing the Muslim Entrepreneur in the last two sessions and we have mentioned the principles upon which Muslim Commerce is built. Here we intend to return to the importance of it (Muslim Entrepreneur) in the Muslim societies.
One of the main things today with which the Kāfir west dominate and control the Muslim Ummah is the power of their economies. We have seen how countries headed by their presidents sell their honour for the economic benefits that they may gain from Western Powers: America, Britain, Germany, etc.
We have also seen how Presidents sell their Dīn due to certain promises of debt relief from the Western countries, but more painful than that are the Muslim youths themselves who prefer to rely on the crumps of money that they receive from some of their employers as salaries instead of putting together their brains and resources to pull together something entrepreneurial for their benefit and for the benefit of their societies.
This is very important once considered well, In the time of the predecessors, this was not the case.
Imām Al-Ghazzālī – alayhi rahmatullāh – mentioned that it was the obligation of the Islamic State under its Imām to provide economic strength to the Muslims living under its suzerainty. Thus we saw that in the time of the Abbāsid Caliphate, the Caliphs would have economic advisers who served as welfare ministers to aid and relieve those that suffered from poverty. They did this not by sharing money simply but by empowering them by way of commerce, Import, export, artisan development and creativity were encouraged to help youths cater for themselves.
Imām Al-Khuzā’ī – rahimahullāh – mentioned in his illustrious book ‘Ad-Dalālātu As-Sam’iyya’ what sort of crafts, commerce, artisanship, and occupations that not only existed during the time of the Rasūl – salallāhu alayhi wasallam – but which were also encouraged by him and his successors after him.
Let whosoever wants to be guided in that regard study the text or seek knowledge of it from those who know.
Where today are the Muslim youths on this regard? Where are they to help build and grow this trait that is almost lost.
The Khalīfah Alī Ibn Abī Tālīb – radiyallāhu anhu – once said:
لا خير في قوم يأكلون ما لا يزرعون ويلبسون مما لا ينسجون
“There is no good in a people who eat of that which they didn’t cultivate and wear textiles of what they didn’t yarn”
Though the statement been attributed to Alī – radiyallāhu anhu – is weak, its meaning conforms with Islām.
Allah – ta’ala – said in the Qur’ān:
(هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الأرْضَ ذَلُولاً فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِنْ رِزْقِهِ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ)
“It is He who has made the earth for you submissive. So walk on its terrains and eat of its provisions, and to Him is the return.”
Al-Imām Al-Hāfidh Imāduddīn Ibn Kathīr – rahimahullāh – said:
فسافروا حيث شئتم من أقطارها ، وترددوا في أقاليمها ، وأرجائها ، في أنواع المكاسب ، والتجارات .
“تفسير ابن كثير” (8/179)
What it means is:
“So, travel through its lands wherever you wish and move around in its lands and spaces in your different occupations and commerce.”
The Muslim youth must not be someone that relies on other people to provide for him but must be one that struggles hard to seek for means by tilling the earth, commerce, trade or artisanship.
The Rasūl – salallāhu alayhi wasallam – said:
مَا أَكَلَ أَحَدٌ طَعَاماً قَطُّ خَيْراً مِنْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدِهِ ، وَإِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ
يَأْكُلُ مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدِهِ) رواه البخاري (1966)
“No one ever ate a meal that is better than that which is the fruit of his labour. And the Prophet of Allāh Dāwud – alayhi salām – ate of the fruits of his labours.”
Don’t forget that Dāwud – alayhissalām – was a Prophet of Allāh and a King to his people
That did not make him relax or to remain without doing some work. Rather, he strived.
Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbās – radiyallāhu anhumā – said:
“كَانَ “ذُو الْمَجَازِ” ، و “عُكَاظٌ” مَتْجَرَ النَّاسِ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ ، فَلَمَّا جَاءَ الإِسْلاَمُ كَأَنَّهُمْ كَرِهُوا ذَلِكَ حَتَّى نَزَلَتْ (لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَبْتَغُوا فَضْلاً مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ) فِي مَوَاسِمِ الْحَجِّ” رواه البخاري
“Dhū Al-Majāz and Uqqādh were the market places of people in Jāhiliyyah. Thus when Islām came, it were as if they (the Muslims) disliked it until it was revealed ‘there is no Blame on you that you seek the bounties of your Lord’ regarding the period of Hajj”
The two transacting positions mentioned were used by people anytime during the Hajj season. Thus, the Muslims disliked that commerce be done during the Hajj period. The verse came to give them a rest of mind in that regard.
So, where are we as youths in this regard? You find University graduates who are vibrant and young Muslims relying on very meager and denigrating salaries that are given to them by exploitative corporations and establishments or companies that are not only capitalist in inclinations but with anti-Islamic goals.
Brothers and sisters, this has to stop if we are to raise Islam further ahead and help ourselves and our Dīn. Network with other Muslims, build bridges, connect with the Muslims who have such goals and aspirations. Seek advice from people of experience, ask questions from people who know market landscapes and how its dynamics work.
Remember that the technical efficiency that is required of a Muslim necessitates that he is entrepreneurial.
The philosophy behind the entrepreneur is that he is astute, he looks into the society, is quick to detect opportunities, looks at resources at his disposal and calculates an efficient use of it. He then moves out to implement the dream that he just had stopping at nothing that situation permits him, That is who a Muslim is.
Dear ones, Do not rely on others to help you live your life. Strive hard, look for opportunities that do not only help yourself but that help the entire Muslim society.
We ask Allāh for guidance, support, assistance and blessings.
Bārakallāhu Fīkum
Jazākumullāhu Khayran
We shall stop here.
سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك أشهد ان لا اله إلا الله نستغفرك ونتوب إليك
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
