Abdul Muqit Chowdhury :
The acceptance of fasting or any prayer to Allah depends on lawful honest earning. The persons, related with trade and commerce, thus, should evaluate their earnings and background of economic relations in the society. This is very much applicable particularly in the month of Ramzan. Jakat and all charitable
activities are going on largely in this period. All such religious activities or rituals as fasting should be supported by Islamic pre-conditions. Lawful earning is required. The businessmen have to evaluate their dealings with the workers in the industries, organisations and the buyers in the market. Honesty and justice should be the criterion.
Islamic economic system help people to earn their livelihood honestly. It is equitable and balanced. Its system of ‘demand and supply’ is based not on self-interest, but on human sympathy. Morality and values guide this economy. So, the fear of Allah and solicitude in the world here-after watch over any activity, economic or otherwise.
In Islam, trade is lawful and usury (interest) is forbidden, “And Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury.” (Sura Baqara (2:275). So any income from usury is unlawful and dis-honesty and all concerned should avoid this.
In industries and farms there are the owners and employees. There is the question of good relations between the two sides for smooth running. Lawful earning by concerned sides is a must.
There is the question of payment of wages. The Holy Hadith says: “Pay the wages to the worker before his sweat gets dried.” (Ibne Mazah, Tibranee) “Rasulullah (Sm) will complain against three classes of persons on the Day of Judgement. One among them is : the man who employes a worker on wages, then takes the full measure of work from him, but does not pay him his wages.” (Bukhari Sharif) So, an employer should pay the wages of the workers. Otherwise his earnings will be mixed with unlawful, dishonest gain.
Similarly, the employee or labourer is also under certain Injunctions which make his relation with the employer more congenial. Islam seeks from the employee proper discharge of duties. He should fulfil his contract of work not only for his earning of livelihood, but also his felicity in the next world. The Holy Ayat in this context is : “O ye who believe, fulfil (all) obligations”. (Sura Mayeda 5:1) Allama Yusuf Ali in the ‘Holy Quran : Translation and Commentary’ comments : “……There are tacit obligations on the characters of host and guest, wayfarer and companion, employer or employed etc. etc, which every man of Faith must discharge conscientiously. The man who deserts those who need him and goes to pray in a desert is a coward who disregards his obligations. All these obligations are inter-related. Truth and fidelity are parts of religion in all relations of life.” So, the employee should see that the tacit obligations are fulfilled.
The entrepreneur’s responsible dealing and the workers rendering of duty properly contribute to the progress of the organisation and this ensures lawful honest earning for both which helps acceptance of fasting to Allah.
The acceptance of fasting or any prayer to Allah depends on lawful honest earning. The persons, related with trade and commerce, thus, should evaluate their earnings and background of economic relations in the society. This is very much applicable particularly in the month of Ramzan. Jakat and all charitable
activities are going on largely in this period. All such religious activities or rituals as fasting should be supported by Islamic pre-conditions. Lawful earning is required. The businessmen have to evaluate their dealings with the workers in the industries, organisations and the buyers in the market. Honesty and justice should be the criterion.
Islamic economic system help people to earn their livelihood honestly. It is equitable and balanced. Its system of ‘demand and supply’ is based not on self-interest, but on human sympathy. Morality and values guide this economy. So, the fear of Allah and solicitude in the world here-after watch over any activity, economic or otherwise.
In Islam, trade is lawful and usury (interest) is forbidden, “And Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury.” (Sura Baqara (2:275). So any income from usury is unlawful and dis-honesty and all concerned should avoid this.
In industries and farms there are the owners and employees. There is the question of good relations between the two sides for smooth running. Lawful earning by concerned sides is a must.
There is the question of payment of wages. The Holy Hadith says: “Pay the wages to the worker before his sweat gets dried.” (Ibne Mazah, Tibranee) “Rasulullah (Sm) will complain against three classes of persons on the Day of Judgement. One among them is : the man who employes a worker on wages, then takes the full measure of work from him, but does not pay him his wages.” (Bukhari Sharif) So, an employer should pay the wages of the workers. Otherwise his earnings will be mixed with unlawful, dishonest gain.
Similarly, the employee or labourer is also under certain Injunctions which make his relation with the employer more congenial. Islam seeks from the employee proper discharge of duties. He should fulfil his contract of work not only for his earning of livelihood, but also his felicity in the next world. The Holy Ayat in this context is : “O ye who believe, fulfil (all) obligations”. (Sura Mayeda 5:1) Allama Yusuf Ali in the ‘Holy Quran : Translation and Commentary’ comments : “……There are tacit obligations on the characters of host and guest, wayfarer and companion, employer or employed etc. etc, which every man of Faith must discharge conscientiously. The man who deserts those who need him and goes to pray in a desert is a coward who disregards his obligations. All these obligations are inter-related. Truth and fidelity are parts of religion in all relations of life.” So, the employee should see that the tacit obligations are fulfilled.
The entrepreneur’s responsible dealing and the workers rendering of duty properly contribute to the progress of the organisation and this ensures lawful honest earning for both which helps acceptance of fasting to Allah.
