The Importance of Halal Earning

“O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent.” Holy Qur’an, 4:29

Allah ﷻ (The Most Exalted) has permitted believers to acquire earning and wealth by lawful means through consensual agreements. In Islam, there are different types of binding agreements such as musharakah, mudarabah, etc. by which business is transacted. It is unlawful for Muslims to consume the wealth of another believer by unjust means. In the above ayah, ‘takulu’ is translated as ‘consume’. In the context of earnings it refers to any illicit method by which the wealth of others is taken-advantage-of or usurped. These unlawful activities are mentioned in the Holy Qur’an as riba, gambling, theft and other forms of exploitation. Imam Jalaludin Suyuti (d.1459 CE) further explains this: “O you who believe, consume not your goods between you wrongly, unlawfully according to The Law, through usury or usurpation, except it be trading (tijaratan) so that the goods be from trade effected, through mutual agreement, through mutual good-will: such [goods] you may consume. [4:29, Tafsir al-Jalalayn]

Introduction

Wealth is one of the immeasurable blessings Allahﷻ bestows on human beings. For Muslims, when earned through halal means it becomes a source of divine mercy and leads one to a spiritual path that encourages acts of obedience, piety and charitable works and protects the believers from evil.

For many Canadian Muslims, halal and haram is usually restricted to food. However, the concept of halal and haram should not be confined to things like pork, alcohol and gambling only, but also to all other aspects of human existence such as our earning, lifestyle and business. As we will see later, if our earning is not free from haram activities and sources then everything we consume becomes haram. To not live by this fundamental precept in Islam, whether by ignorance or by complacency, has a profound effect upon the acceptance of our prayers and our ultimate state in akhira (our afterlife).

Misconceptions The basic meaning of halal is lawful. Commodities and services permitted by Shariah (Islamic Law) is considered halal. In the Islamic terminology, halal is referred to any physical goods and services we are allowed to use and take benefit from. Most goods and services are halal except for a few which are declared haram or unlawful in the Holy Qur’ān.

Historically, the focus of halal and haram has been most prominent when it comes to food, but the concept of halal and haram must also be applied to all things beyond food including lifestyle, finances, investments, and business. Today it is hard to find Muslims who are able to differentiate between legal and illegal earnings. This is due to the fact that Muslims today have been exposed to only a secular education which leads them to adopt ideas which are not aligned to Islamic values. For this reason we find Muslims in the West as well as in Islamic countries are comfortable with haram income but yet search for halal foods. Moreover, when the correct Qur’anic perspective of halal and haram is mentioned to them, they contrarily argue that they pay zakah, therefore their income is halal. This false idea amongst Muslims that they can earn money through haram activities and Allah will forgive them when they spend some portion of their income on the social welfare of people has hindered the development of Islamic businesses and investments. Then there are those who limit Islam to the masjid and include other activities such as business and commerce to a separate part of human life. Their understanding of Islam makes them feel that they are not to mix ‘worldly affairs’ with Islam. They feel Islam is limited to five times prayer in the masjid. It seems as though they have ‘imprisoned’ Allah in the masjid. Such people are more often more concerned about halal food and not halal income.

Islam does not have any concern with halal business, commerce and method of earnings since more than 25% of the text of the Holy Qur’ān and Hadīth discuss issues pertaining to mu’amilaat (business transactions). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ (Peace and Blessings of Allah on him) said:

“It is obligatory on every Muslim to seek what is halal.” (Majma Az-Zawaid, 10:291) “Seeking of a halal earning is fardh (obligatory) after the fardh salah”. (Sunan al-Baihaqi, 6:126)

Consequences of Unlawful Earning Allah ﷻ has provided guidance on how our earning and businesses should be carried out in a halal way and the grave consequences of not undertaking this responsibility.

And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful]. Qur’an, 2:188

Consume not your goods between you, that is to say, do not let one consume the goods of the other, in deception, that which is illicit according to The Law, such as theft and exortation; and do not, proffer them, the regulation of these [goods] or any bribes, to the judges, that you may consume, as a result of any arbitration, a portion of other people’s goods, embroiled, in sin while you are aware, that you are in error. (2:188, Tafsir al-Jalalayn)

When earning is not acquired in a halal way there are far reaching consequences. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ (Peace and Blessings of Allah on him) said:

“The person, who earns unlawfully and then spends for his needs, he will be deprived of blessings. If he gives something in charity, his act will not be accepted. When he leaves his wealth as inheritance, then it will lead him to Hell.” (Musnad Ahmad, 36:72, Mustadrak, 2:43, Al-Mujam Al-Kabeer, Tabrani, 10:223)

“There was a person who travelled far, becoming disheveled and dusty and he raises his hands to the sky, saying, “O Lord! O Lord!” while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished by the unlawful, so how can he be answered?’ (Muslim: 1686, Tirmidhi: 2915, Musnad Ahmad: 8330, Musannaf Abdur Razzaq, 5:20, Sunan Al-Baihaqi, 3:346)

Regarding the questioning on the Day of Judgement, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (Peace and Blessings of Allah on him) said:

Man's feet will not move on the Day of judgment before he will be asked about his life; how did he consume it, his knowledge; what did he do with it, his wealth; how did he earn it and how did he spend it, and about his body; how did he wear it out. (At-Tirmidhi, 2341)

These ahadith or prophetic narrations clearly point out that it is the responsibility of a true Muslim to seek wealth, which is halal and make himself busy in benefiting from all lawful means at his disposal. So, when a Muslim intends to adopt a profession, start out a business, or seek an employment, he or she must seriously think that if they are lawful for him.

Virtues of Halal Earning A person is given strength and courage to carry out righteous deeds if he eats from halal earnings.

"O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness. Indeed, I, of what you do, am Knowing.” [Qur’an 23:51]

Abu Said (RA) reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once said:

“The person who earns halal and then he uses it for himself or gives it to someone or clothes someone, then this act will become a cause of purity for him.” (Sahih Ibn Hibban, 10:48, Mustadrak, 4:144)

If a person is blessed with eating Halal, then he has everything. There is nothing in this world that can harm such a person.

Abdullah Ibn Amr (RA) reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has said:

“There are four things, if present in you, then no matter whatever you lose from this world: Protection of the trust, truth in speech, decency in manners and purity in eating.” (Musnad Ahmad: 6652, Mustadrak, Al-Hakim, 4: 349)

In the sight of Allah ﷻ the act of consuming lawful earnings is highly commendable and appreciable as confirmed by these ahadith.

Conclusion The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“A time will come when a person will not care as to how he gets his money whether by halal or haram means.” (Bukhari:1954, Musnad Ahmad: 9618)

Unfortunately, this time has come. Once a Muslim becomes cognisant of the importance of halal earnings it is incumbent on him or her to avoid haram sources of income. Failing to do so can have dire consequences if a Muslim participates in haram financial and commercial ventures.

For Muslims, one of the most critical aspects of applying Shariah to income is to ensure that all income sources are halal. Islamic investment and finance place huge importance in ensuring that income from businesses and investment are halal based on principles enshrined in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah.

Written by: Shabbir Khan CPA, Munaf Solaiman MSc

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