Through Force or Faith? — Page 279
Chapter 7 — Novelty in the Teachings of Muhammad 279 In addition, it is admonished that engaging in business and mak- ing money should not become the primary objective of human endeavour and it should not make one forgetful of his spiritual- ity ( S u rah al-Jumu‘ah, 62:10). Moreover, instructions are given about how to conduct business; no deception is to be used, the bulk items should have the same quality as the sample (Muslim, Tradition No. 147); deals made by others are not to be interfered with (Bukh ā rī, Tradition No. 1995); no deception and cheating is to be used in business (Bukh ā rī, Tradition No. 1968). Principles of farming are also fully explained, as an example, in the books of h adīth, under the chapters dealing with sales and farming. In short, there is no aspect of business about which there is no guid- ance in the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Prophet s as. Similarly, Islam has put much emphasis that a man should spend willingly a portion out of his wealth for the welfare of man- kind and on charitable causes, and it should be out of pure and lawful earnings: اَهُّيَاٰۤي َنْيِذَّلا اْۤوُنَمٰا اْوُقِفْنَا ْنِم ِتٰبِّيَط اَم ْمُتْبَسَك َو ۤاَّمِم اَنْجَرْخَا ْمُكَل َنِّم ِضْرَاْلا O ye who believe! Spend of the good things that you have earned, and what We produce for you from the earth. ( S u rah al-Baqarah, 2:268) The acts of charity should be overt so that others may also be inspired to do the same, and it should also be covert so that one may avoid ostentatiousness: َو اْوُقَفْنَا اَّمِم ْمُهٰنْقَزَر اًّرِس َّو ًةَيِناَلَع that is the wise are those who spend out of that which We have provide them, secretly and openly ( S u rah ar-Ra‘d, 13:23).