Dr Swan desribed, "O my brothers and sisters! Providing for people's needs, helping them acquire their benefit and ensuring meaningful cooperation between them, requires truthfulness, Amanah, and prohibits lying, deceit and all the types of dealings that Allah does not permit. Allah said,يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَخُوْنُوا اللّٰهَ وَالرَّسُوْلَ وَتَخُوْنُوْٓا اَمٰنٰتِكُمْ وَاَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ"O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger, or betray your trusts, while you know (the consequence)." [QS. Al-'Anfal (8):27]Pay attention to this experience,
One Friday noon, Nasreddin Hodja was walking home after fulfilling the Friday Prayer. Something crossed his mind, that, what was the purpose behind the Friday Prayer? But in an instant, he had the answer. He soon remembered, his father's advice, "O my son! Our beloved (ﷺ) was standing on the Minbar, delivering the Khutbah on Friday when a caravan of merchandise from Syria came to Al-Madinah. It was said, that the caravan, belonged to Dihyah ibn Khalifah before he became a Muslim, and there were drums accompanying it. The caravan brought merchandise such as flour, wheat, oil and others. According to the custom, when the caravan arrived, young women came out to greet them by beating a drum, as a notification so that people came shopping to buy the merchandise they carried.The Companions, radhiallahu 'anhum, rushed towards it until only twelve persons were left with him (ﷺ), including Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, radhiayallahu 'anhum. They rushed to the place where the caravan had arrived, in order to get the provisions before they were depleted. They were sure, they would come back within time and join the prayer. This was not wilful disobedience on the part of the Companions, moreover, it was drought and fiminine, but they were so attached to the Prophet (ﷺ), that one could not conceive of such a thing. They were in actuality, not fully aware of the importance of the Friday sermon.But Allah showed His displeasure by informing them that, what is with Allah, is better than games, entertainment, music, dancing, and the trade in precious goods. They should, therefore, depend upon Him Alone for sustenance. It was on this occasion, that the following verse was revealed,وَاِذَا رَاَوْا تِجَارَةً اَوْ لَهْوًا ۨانْفَضُّوْٓا اِلَيْهَا وَتَرَكُوْكَ قَاۤىِٕمًاۗ قُلْ مَا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ اللَّهْوِ وَمِنَ التِّجَارَةِۗ وَاللّٰهُ خَيْرُ الرّٰزِقِيْنَ"But (on one occasion) when they saw a transaction or a diversion, (O Muḥammad), they rushed to it and left you standing. Say, "What is with Allah is better than diversion and than a transaction, and Allah is the best of providers." [QS. Al-Jumuah (62):11]Prayer is the most effective means of fostering social life, a visible expression of Allah-consciousness in man. This is the reason why, it has been made essential for Muslims, to observe obligatory prayers in congregation. Jumuah is a step forward in this respect. The purpose behind it, is to provide opportunities to a greater number of Muslims, to attend larger congregations, in the mosque in an atmosphere of religious piety. Apart from prayer, the Friday sermon, has also been made an integral part of the Jumuah Prayer. The Imaam delivers the sermon, and instructs people in their religion. He explains to them the day-to-day problems in the light of Islam. Friday, is primarily the Day of Assembly.Note the gradations of social contact for Muslims if they followed the wise ordinances of their faith:
- Each individual remembers Allah for himself or herself, five or more times every day in the home, place of business, local mosque, or open air, as the case may be;
- Every week on Friday, there is a local meeting in the central mosque of each locality, be it in a village, a town, or a big city;
- At the two Ieds every year, there is a large local area meeting;
- At least once in a lifetime, when possible, a Muslim shares in the Makkan Pilgrimage, the largest of the all Islamic gatherings in this world."
Now he realized, how important it is to attend Friday Prayers on time as the Prophet (ﷺ) sugested, without saying a word, to listen to the Imam of the Mosque delivering the sermon. Previously, he thought, that only performing Friday prayers, would be sufficient. In fact, both prayer and khutbah, were one unit.
Nasreddin went on, and while walking towards his house, he passed by a garden, and happened to hear a little talk of a mother to her daughter, sitting on a bench, under a tree, "Honey, it’s no problem to consider about what would you do, with the money you don’t have it yet. Whether the money is coming from a tax refund, an inheritance, a bonus or raise, or some other source, don’t get too excited and don’t count on it. Don’t spend it, or make any promises about what you’ll do with it, unless the money is really in your hands. When you've got the money, spend it wisely, especially for obedience to Allah.Listen to this,"Dolly, the Milkmaid, having been a good girl for a long time, and careful in her work, her mistress gave her a pail of new milk for herself. With the pail on her head, she was tripping gaily along to the house of the doctor, who was going to give a large party, and wanted the milk for a junket."For this milk, I shall get much dinars," said Dolly, "And with that dinars, I shall buy twenty of the eggs laid by our neighbour's fine fowls. These eggs, I shall put under mistress's old hen, and if only half of the chicks grow up, and thrive before the next fair time comes round, I shall be able to sell them for a good guinea. Then I shall buy that jacket I saw in the village the other day, and a hat and ribbons too, and when I go to the fair, how smart I shall be! Lakshmi, who often underestimate me, will be there, for certain, and she will come up and offer to be friends again. I won't come round so easily, though ; I shall just toss up my head and ..." Here, Dolly gave her head the toss she was thinking about. Down came the Pail, and the Milk ran out on the ground ! Good-bye now to eggs, chicken, jacket, hat, ribbons, and all!"Hearing this, Nasreddin nodded, remembering something. Indeed, he also remembered the Imam's sermon at the mosque earlier,
"O my brothers, I heard that someone has stated, "... there will be no Islamic preeminence without first achieving economic preeminence. Further, there can be no economic preeminence without establishing financial institutions, which cannot operate without relying on Interest or Riba.”The response to this statement, that 'the statement is false.' Certainly, the Muslim Ummah, is obliged to establish their economies on strong foundations, relying on and using the permissible means that Allah has allowed for them. Economic strength, will help the Ummah perform what Allah ordained for them, abandon what He, Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, prohibited for them and be aware regarding their enemies' plots against them.Allah ordered Muslims to help one another in piety and righteousness, including fulfilling the terms of their legal contracts and protecting their mutual rights using permissible means. He also warned them against transgressing each other’s rights and properties.Strength, cooperation, righteous legislation and careful preparation, will allow the Islamic economy to thrive safely, as well as, help Muslims increase their wealth, and acquire their needs and legal benefits using the methods that Allah has allowed for them.Whenever Muslims sincerely preserve Allah's Commandments and recommend one another to preserve the righteous Islamic Law, then Allah will make their conditions better and will bless their wealth and work. Allah will also help them achieve their goals and acquire safety from the invaders.A financial institution can always function without the need for usury, just as was the case with Muslim economy in past centuries, especially during the early time of Islam. During that golden era, Muslim economy was the purest, the largest and the strongest, without ever needing to rely on Riba. Allah gave victory to His religion and raised the flag of Islam high through these early believers, bestowing on them vast provisions; truly, the riches of the earth were uncovered for them.In response, we state that Muslims benefited from the Islamic economic system for the past fourteen centuries, long before banks ever existed. During this long period of time, the projects and industries that existed in the Muslim World, did not rely on prohibited types of dealings. Further, we state the fact that in modern times, people do not need to deal in Riba to sustain their livelihood.We should note here that, all types of mistakes and injustices result from indulging in the prohibited types of dealings. This is especially true when the society is not fulfilling its obligations towards its members, such as being sincere, trustworthy and be honest to other people, while shunning all types of illegal dealings that entail Riba, Gharar, deceit and cheating."When he got home, a Taxman was waiting for him, saying he had not paid the 500 dinars tax. He was asked to pay it off immediately. As usual, the Taxman explained that the tax collected would be used to pay the debt and interest of the state, which was used to build public facilities, such as freeways, flyovers, ship ports and airports. And the Taxman man said, "It was all built for the sake of ...!" suddenly, the Taxman choked and coughed, perhaps the asthma, relapsed. Nasruddin talked to himself, "For whom... his voice not clear!" Then the Taxman defined, "Therefore, if you don't want to pay today, then you must be brought to the court!" while handing over a letter.On Monday, Nasreddin Hodja went to the court, where the Taxman and the Judge had been waiting. The Taxman said to the Judge, "This man won't pay 500 dinars unpaid tax, which are long overdue. I request your excellency, to order him to pay without further delay.”“I do owe bills,” said Nasreddin Hodja, “And I intend to pay it. I’ll sell my cow and horse if necessary, but it’ll take time.”“He is lying,” said the Taxman. “He doesn’t have a cow or horse or anything of value for that matter. I am told he doesn’t even have food in his house!” Calmly, the Hodja said, “When he knows I am so poor, O Judge, ask him, how he expects me to pay him immediately.” In responsed, the wise Judge give his short evaluatin, "In that case, O Mr Taxman, how do you suppose to make him pay the tax, for he has nothing?" The judge, then dismissed the case.
At home, Hodja, asked his wife, "O dear! Have you ever crossed flyover or highways, or visited harbors and airports?" The wife gently replied, "O Hodja, we only have a donkey, how can we enjoy such kind of grandeur? Don't be fanciful!"
Citations & References :Dr Swan added, "O my brothers and sisters! In a faulty economic relations, that of the inability to repay the debt in its due time, everything is ethically, dysfunctional in this economic relations : breaches of promises, excuses, no room for argument. The need for money to fulfil the obligation to repay the debt leads to hanky-panky and diversion. And Allah knows best."
- Aboo Ibraaheem Majeed Alee Hasan, Etiiquettes of a Muslim on Friday, Message of Islaam
- Abdul 'Aziz Ibn Abdullah Ibn Baz, Warning Against Riba (Usury) Transactions, translated by Jalal Abu Al-Rub, Madinah Publishers and Distriburs
- J.B. Rundell, Aesop's Fables, Cassel, Peter and Galpin
- Minyatur Yayinlari, 202 Jokes of Nasreddin Hodja, Amazon
