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Lesson Unlawful Earnings and Financial Transactions

In this lesson, we will learn about the concept of unlawful earnings, its causes and harms, and the concept of forbidden financial transactions

Identifying unlawful earnings and explaining its harm.
Learn about forbidden financial transactions.

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This lesson is translated into the following languages:

አማርኛ العربية বাংলা Español Français हिन्दी ភាសាខ្មែរ മലയാളം नेपाली Oromoo پښتو Português සිංහල Kiswahili தமிழ் తెలుగు Tagalog Uyƣurqə / ئۇيغۇرچە اردو Tiếng Việt

Earnings can either be good, pure, and permissible or impure, lowly and forbidden. Allah says: (O believers! Donate from the best of what you have earned and of what We have produced for you from the earth. Do not pick out worthless things for donation,)[Al-BAqarah:267]

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said in a narration that the Prophet ﷺ said: «Certainly a time will come when people will not bother to know from where they earned the money, by lawful means or unlawful means.» )Al-Bukhari, 2083)

Impure Earnings

To consume people's money unjustly or to earn in a manner that is forbidden by the legislation.

The Ways of Falling into Unlawful Earnings

By consuming people's money unjustly, including taking the money of others unjustly, fraud, deception, coercion, or without the consent and willingness of its owner.

By means of transactions prohibited by the legislation, including usury, gambling, and the sale of forbidden items such as alcohol, pig meat, musical instruments, etc.

Some Reasons that Lead to Unlawful Earnings

Not having fear of Allah and being shy from Him: If fear and shyness of Allah are removed from a person's heart, he will not care whether his earnings are from lawful or unlawful sources.

Keen to earn quick money: some people are impatient and want to get a lot of money in the shortest amount of time, and this can push them towards consuming what is forbidden.

Greed and the lack of contentment: Some people are not satisfied with what Allah has allocated to them of lawful sustenance, so they strive for more, even if it's what Allah has forbidden.

Harms of Unlawful Earnings

The anger of Allah falling upon you and entering the Hellfire. Abu Umama (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «If anyone appropriates by his oath what rightly belongs to a Muslim, Allah has made hell necessary for him and deprived him of paradise.» A man asked Allah's Messenger whether that applied even if it were a small amount, and he replied, «Even if it were a stick from an arak tree.» (Muslim, 137)

The darkness of the heart, the laziness of the limbs from obedience to the Lord, Glory be to Him, and the removal of blessings from a person's sustenance and lifespan.

A person's supplication is not accepted. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ «mentioned a man who makes a long journey in a disheveled and dusty state, who stretches out his hands to heaven saying, “My Lord, my Lord,” when his food, drink, and clothing are of an unlawful nature, and he is nourished by what is unlawful and asked how such a one could be given an answer.»

The spread of enmity and hatred between people, and the disintegration of society, and this result is inevitable when encroaching on people’s money and consuming it unjustly. Allah says: (Satan’s plan is to stir up hostility and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling...) [Al-Maidah:91]

Types of Forbidden Issues in Financial Transactions

Actual products themselves are forbidden.

The forbidden ways in which the transactions are carried out.

Things that are Intrinsically Forbidden

Each thing that is forbidden intrinsically; such as dead meat, blood, pork, impurities, filth, and the like, are among the things that the soul naturally avoids. Allah says: (Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “I do not find in what has been revealed to me anything forbidden to eat except carrion, running blood, swine—which is impure—or a sinful offering in the name of any other than Allah. But if someone is compelled by necessity—neither driven by desire nor exceeding immediate need—then surely your Lord is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) [Al-An'aam:145]

The forbidden ways in which transactions are carried out.

Every transaction that violates the legislation; such as usury, gambling, fraud, hoarding, deceit, and the like, which involves injustice to the slaves, and consuming people's money unjustly. This type is desired by the soul, so it needed a deterrent, a rebuke, and a punishment that prevents one from falling into it. Allah says: (Indeed, those who unjustly consume orphans’ wealth ˹in fact˺ consume nothing but fire into their bellies. And they will be burned in a blazing Hell!) [An-Nisaa:10] And He says: (O believers! Fear Allah, and give up outstanding interest if you are ˹true˺ believers. If you do not, then beware of war with Allah and His Messenger!) [Al-Baqarah:278.279]

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