Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 269
269 are made for purchase of the goods or commodities in bulk. He should not be taken unaware lest advantage be taken of his ignorance of the state of the market and the prevailing prices. All this is very clearly laid down by the Prophet. There are stern injunctions in the Quran with regard to the giving of full weight and measure (26:182 ⎯ 185). “Woe unto those who give short measure; those who, when they take by measure from other people, take it full, but when they give by measure to others or weigh out to them, they give them less. Do not such people know that they will be raised again unto a terrible day, the day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds?” (83:2 ⎯ 7). Defective or worthless goods or articles should not be given in exchange for good ones (4:3). In short, any kind of transaction which does not comply with the highest standards of honesty and integrity must be eschewed, “for God loves not the dishonest” (8:59). Gambling is prohibited, inasmuch as it promotes dissension and hatred, and tends to deter those who indulge in it from the remembrance of God and from Prayer, thus occasioning a great deal more harm than any possible benefit that may be derived from it (2:220; 5:91 ⎯ 92). All unlawful means of acquiring property are prohibited, as these in the end destroy a people (4:30).