35/23. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3800 — Honest Trade and Charity
Idle Talk And Lies
Ethical Business in Islam: Honest Trade, Truthful Speech, and Charity
Sunan an-Nasai : 3800
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3800
أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي غَرَزَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا بِالْمَدِينَةِ نَبِيعُ الأَوْسَاقَ وَنَبْتَاعُهَا وَكُنَّا نُسَمِّي أَنْفُسَنَا السَّمَاسِرَةَ وَيُسَمِّينَا النَّاسُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَسَمَّانَا بِاسْمٍ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الَّذِي سَمَّيْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَسَمَّانَا النَّاسُ فَقَالَ " يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ إِنَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بَيْعَكُمُ الْحَلِفُ وَالْكَذِبُ فَشُوبُوهُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ " .
Qais bin Abi Gharazah Narrated from:
In Al-Madinah we used to buy and sell Wasqs (of goods), and we used to call ourselves Samasir (brokers), and the people used to call us like that. The Messenger of Allah came out to us one day, and called us by a name that was better than that which we called ourselves and which the people called us. He said: 'O Tujjar (traders), your selling involves (false) oaths and lies, so mix some charity with it.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3800In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 40English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3831
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3800
This hadith gives a clear lesson about ethical business in Islam. Qais bin Abi Gharazah describes how the people of Madinah bought and sold goods and were known as brokers. The Messenger of Allah addressed them with the better name of traders. He then pointed out a real danger in buying and selling: false oaths and lies may enter business dealings. His instruction was to mix trade with charity. The hadith does not say that charity makes dishonesty acceptable. Rather, it joins a warning about harmful speech with a call to give. For anyone searching for a hadith about honest trading, the main message is simple: sellers should watch their words, avoid false claims, and keep charity connected to their commercial life.
What we learn from this hadith
- Traders should guard their speech from false oaths and lies.
- Business dealings can expose people to moral mistakes.
- Charity should have a place in the life of a trader.
- A respectful and better name can be used when addressing people.
