44/7. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4463 — Charity for Merchants
The Command To Give Charity for The One Who Did Not Believe That What He Swore About Was True
Charity in Business: Advice for Muslim Merchants
Sunan an-Nasai : 4463
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4463
أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ قُدَامَةَ، عَنْ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي غَرَزَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا بِالْمَدِينَةِ نَبِيعُ الأَوْسَاقَ وَنَبْتَاعُهَا وَنُسَمِّي أَنْفُسَنَا السَّمَاسِرَةَ وَيُسَمِّينَا النَّاسُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَمَّانَا بِاسْمٍ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَنَا مِنَ الَّذِي سَمَّيْنَا بِهِ أَنْفُسَنَا فَقَالَ " يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ إِنَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بَيْعَكُمُ الْحَلِفُ وَاللَّغْوُ فَشُوبُوهُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ " .
Qais bin Abi Gharazah Narrated from:
We used to trade in the markets of Al-Madinah and we used to call ourselves as-Samasir (brokers) and the people called us that, but the Messenger of Allah came out to s and called us by a name that was better than what we called ourselves. He said: O merchants (Tujjar)! Selling involves (false) oaths and idle talk, so mix some charity with it,"" (Sahih)
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4463In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 15English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 4468
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4463
This hadith speaks directly to merchants. Qays bin Abi Gharazah explains that traders had been known as brokers, but the Messenger of Allah called them by the better name of merchants. He then warned that selling can be accompanied by false oaths and idle talk, and he told them to mix charity with their business activity. The hadith about charity in business does not praise careless speech. Instead, it makes traders aware that market conversations can include words they should avoid. The practical instruction in the text is to give charity alongside trade. For Muslim merchants, the message is easy to remember: watch what you say during sales, do not take false oaths, and keep charity connected to your earnings and daily business dealings.
What we learn from this hadith
- Merchants should be alert to false oaths and idle talk during sales.
- Charity should be mixed with business activity as instructed in the hadith.
- A trader’s words in the marketplace matter.
- The Messenger of Allah addressed traders with the honorable name of merchants.
