Theme: The Virtue of Merchant & Business

It was narrated by Abu Hurairah that the people (during his time) said, “O Allah’s Apostle! The rich people have got the highest degrees of prestige and the permanent pleasures (in this life and the life to come in the Hereafter)”.

He ﷺ said, “How is that?”

They said, “The rich pray as we pray, strive in Allah’s Cause as we do, and spend from their surplus wealth in charity, while we have no wealth (to spend likewise)”.

He ﷺ replied “Should I not inform you of a matter by means of which you can reach those before you and surpass those after you? No one can achieve what you have achieved except for those who does the same. Say subhan Allah ten times, alhamdulillah ten times and Allahu Akbar ten times after every obligatory prayer

Narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنهما

(Source: Sahih Bukhari, hadith No. 6329 )

This hadith occurred when a group of poor people complained to the prophet that the affluent amongst them were doing the same deeds they were doing, and with their wealth, they were doing more. Thus the prophet listened to them and provided them with a deed they could do.

When the affluent muslims knew about this, they copied the same action until the poor returned to the prophet and complained, thereafter he ﷺ said: “This is Allah’s grace,which he gives to whom he wishes”.

While our sustenance has been decreed by Allah with some having more than others, those who work with righteousness will have different degrees of reward. We have to remember that whatever wealth we are blessed with, it is a test with which we are going to be asked upon (6:165).

Whatever the financial situation of the believer may be, he/she should not belittle these practical deeds after prayer shared by the prophet .