Islamic Prayer and Ethical Living: Selections from the Hadith, Part 2 of 2

Today’s program continues with more excerpts from the Hadith, focusing on living ethically, especially in business, and stressing gratitude, kindness, and moderation.

Chapter 22 Buying and Selling

“Miqdām reported, The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said: ‘No one eats better food than that which he eats out of the work of his hand.’

Qatādah said, ‘People used to buy and sell and carry on trade (in goods), but when it was the turn of a duty out of the duties imposed by Allāh, neither merchandise nor selling diverted them from the remembrance of Allāh, so that they performed their duty to Allāh (first).

Abū Sa’īd reported, The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said: ‘The truthful, honest merchant is with the prophets and the truthful ones and the martyrs.’

Jābir reported, The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said: ‘May Allāh have mercy on the man who is generous when he buys and when he sells and when he demands (his due).’

Hudhaifah said, The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said: ‘The angels met the soul of a man from among those who were before you, (and) they said, Have thou done any good? He said, I used to give respite to the one in easy circumstances and forgive one who was in straitened circumstances. So they forgave him.’ […]

Jābir reported, He heard the Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, say […]: Allāh and His Messenger have forbidden trade in wine and the dead (animals) and swine and idols.”

Chapter 28 Food and Drinks

“[…] Anas said, I was giving drink to people in the abode of Abu Talhah, and their wine at that time was made of dates. Then the Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, ordered a crier to make it known that wine was forbidden. So Abu Talhah said to me, get out and pour it out. […]

Hudhaifah said, I heard the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, say: ‘Do not wear silk or silk brocade, and do not drink in vessels of gold and silver, and do not eat in bowls made of them; for they are for them in this life and for us in the next.’ […]

Abū Hurairah reported on the authority of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him: ‘When the servant brings to one of you his food, then if he does not make him sit with him (to eat at the same table), let him give him a morsel or two morsels, for he has labored to prepare it.’ […]”