Lucrative Black Market and Islam: (Work and Earning Livelihood Lawfully, Halal
Rizq)
The
dependants of Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) had increased in number; so had his
expenses. Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) decided to invest some money in trade
to meet the increased expenses of the house. He arranged for an amount
of thousand Dinars, which he gave to his slave named 'Musadif'
directing him to proceed to Egypt and to invest the amount in business
on behalf of Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS).
Musadif purchased some goods usually exported to Egypt, and joined
a Caravan of traders, who were taking the same type of merchandise to
Egypt.
When they reached near Egypt, they met another Caravan coming out
of the City. They enquired about each other's affairs. During the
course of conversation, they learnt that the goods, which Musadif and
his friends were carrying, were not available in Egypt and were in
great demand there. They became very happy at their good fortune.
Indeed that was an article of common uses and people had to buy it at
all costs.
The traders on hearing the good news decided to exploit the
situation. They agreed together not to sell the goods at less than
hundred percent profit.
They entered the city. The situation was same, as they had been
told. As previously agreed, they created a black market, and did not
sell the goods at less than double the cost.
Musadif returned to Medina with a net profit of one thousand
Dinars. Happy as he was he went to Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS), and placed
before him two bags, each containing one thousand Dinars. Imam Jafar
Sadiq (AS) asked:
"What is this?"
"One of the two bags represents the capital you gave me, and the
other one (which is equal to the capital) is the profit I have made."
"Certainly the profit is unexpectedly high. Tell me how could you
make so much profit?" "The fact is when we learnt near Egypt that the
merchandise we were carrying had become scarce there, we agreed not to
sell the goods at less than double the cost; and we did accordingly. "
"Glory is to God! You did such a work! You took oath to create a
black market among the Muslims! You swore not to sell the goods at less
than double the actual cost! No I don't want such business and such
profit."
Then picking up one of the bags, he said, "This is my capital." He
did not even touch the other one, and said that he did not want to have
any connection with that.
Then Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) said:
"O Musadif! It is easier to fight with a sword than to earn the livelihood
lawfully (Halal Rizq)."
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"shiagroup" group.
To post to this group, send email to shiagroup@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
shiagroup+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/shiagroup?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
