The most beloved place on earth is the mosque, and the most disliked place is the market, yet the market is a human necessity. In this article, the etiquettes and rulings related to the market and buying and selling will be presented sequentially in the light of the Quran and Hadith—beginning with fundamental principles, then etiquettes of trade, followed by important Shariah rulings, and finally a summary and conclusion.
Starting with this basic reality: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: ( أَحَبُّ الْبِلَادِ إِلَی اللّٰہِ مَسَاجِدُہَا ، وَأَبْغَضُ الْبِلَادِ إِلَی اللّٰہِ أَسْوَاقُہَا )
“Among the places in cities, the most beloved to Allah are the mosques found therein, and the most disliked to Allah are the markets found therein.”
The dislike of the market does not negate its necessity; therefore, Allah has made trade lawful: ﴿وَ اَحَلَّ اللّٰہُ الْبَیْعَ وَ حَرَّمَ الرِّبٰوا ﴾
“And Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury.”
Markets were active during the Prophetic era as well; the disbelievers of Makkah even objected: ﴿ مَالِ ہٰذَا الرَّسُوْلِ یَاْکُلُ الطَّعَامَ وَیَمْشِی فِی الْاَسْوَاقِ ﴾
“What kind of a messenger is this who eats food and walks in the markets?”
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) engaged in trade; Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was a cloth merchant, and Abdul Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) were renowned traders. Therefore, going to the market is legally permissible, but etiquettes must necessarily be observed. Below are the etiquettes:
Etiquettes of Buying and Selling
❖ ① Supplication upon entering the market
Reciting the prescribed supplication before stepping into the market is a cause of great virtue. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever recites this supplication upon entering the market ( لَا إِلٰہَ إِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَحْدَہُ لَا شَرِیْکَ لَہُ ، لَہُ الْمُلْکُ وَلَہُ الْحَمْدُ ، یُحْیِیْ وَیُمِیْتُ وَہُوَ حَیٌّ لَا یَمُوْتُ ، بِیَدِہِ الْخَیْرُ ، وَہُوَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیْئٍ قَدِیْرٌ )
, Allah writes for him one million good deeds, erases one million sins, and raises him one million degrees.”
In another narration: ( وَبَنٰی لَہُ بَیْتًا فِی الْجَنَّۃِ )
“And Allah builds a house for him in Paradise.”
❖ ② Avoidance of commotion and noise
Shouting and creating commotion in the market is prohibited; the Prophet’s example is gentleness and dignity: ( لَیْسَ بِفَظٍّ وَلاَ غَلِیْظٍ وَلَا سَخَّابٍ بِالْأسْوَاقِ ، وَلاَ یَدْفَعُ السَّیِّئَۃَ بِالسَّیِّئَۃِ وَلٰکِنْ یَعْفُو وَیَصْفَحُ ۔۔)
“You are neither ill-tempered nor harsh. Nor do you speak loudly in the markets. And you do not respond to evil with evil but forgive and overlook.”
❖ ③ The practice of brotherhood and gentleness in transactions
The relationship among the believers is one of brotherhood: ﴿إِنَّمَا الْمُؤمِنُوْنَ إِخْوَۃٌ﴾
And He said: ( اَلْمُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ کَالْبُنْیَانِ یَشُدُّ بَعْضُہُ بَعْضًا )
“A believer to another believer is like a strong building, each part strengthening the other.”
This brotherhood demands ease in buying, selling, and demanding: ( رَحِمَ اللّٰہُ رَجُلًا سَمْحًا إِذَا بَاعَ وَإِذَا اشْتَرَی وَإِذَا اقْتَضَی )
“May Allah’s mercy be upon the person who is easy and forgiving when selling, buying, and demanding (his right).”
Further He said: ( إِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُحِبُّ سَمْحَ الْبَیْعِ ، سَمْحَ الشِّرَائِ ، سَمْحَ الْقَضَائِ ) [ الترمذی : ۱۳۱۹۔ وصححہ الألبانی ]
“Allah loves the gentle buyer, the gentle seller, and the gentle arbitrator.” ( أَدْخَلَ اللّٰہُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ رَجُلًا کَانَ سَہْلًا مُشْتَرِیًا وَبَائِعًا وَقَاضِیًا وَمُقْتَضِیًا الْجَنَّۃَ)
“Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, admitted into Paradise a person who was gentle in buying and selling, decision-making, and claiming rights.”
The standard of perfect faith is also this benevolence: ( لاَ یُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُکُمْ حَتّٰی یُحِبَّ لِأَخِیْہِ مَا یُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِہٖ )
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”
❖ ④ Protection of the Eyes
It is obligatory to lower the gaze from non-mahram: ﴿ قُلْ لِّلْمُؤمِنِیْنَ یَغُضُّوا مِنْ اَبْصَارِہِمْ وَیَحْفَظُوا فُرُوْجَہُمْ ذٰلِکَ اَزْکٰی لَہُمْ اِِنَّ اللّٰہَ خَبِیْرٌ بِمَا یَصْنَعُوْنَ ﴾
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is well acquainted with what they do.” And the command to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him): ( یَا عَلِیُّ ! لَا تُتْبِعِ النَّظْرَۃَ النَّظْرَۃَ ، فَإِنَّ لَکَ الْأُوْلٰی وَلَیْسَتْ لَکَ الْآخِرَۃُ ) [ ابو داؤد : ۲۱۴۹ ۔ ترمذی : ۲۷۷۷ ۔ وحسنہ الألبانی]
“O Ali! Do not cast a second look after the first, because the first (unintentional) look is forgiven for you, but the second (intentional) is not.” The forbidden gaze is the fornication of the eye: ( إِنَّ اللّٰہَ کَتَبَ عَلَی ابْنِ آدَمَ حَظَّہُ مِنَ الزِّنَا ۔۔۔ فَزِنَی الْعَیْنَیْنِ النَّظَرُ ، وَزِنَی اللِّسَانِ النُّطْقُ ۔۔۔ ) [ مسلم : ۲۶۵۷]
“Indeed, Allah has written for the son of Adam his share of fornication, which he will inevitably commit. The fornication of the eyes is looking, the fornication of the tongue is speaking…”
❖ Requirements of Brotherhood—A Practical Example of Beneficence
There is a poignant story in the Sahihs: A man bought a piece of land and found a pot (thaliya) filled with gold in it. The buyer honestly said: You keep this gold; I only bought the land from you, not the gold. The seller replied: I sold you the land and everything in it. Both wished well for each other, so they took the matter to an arbitrator. He asked: Do you have children? One said: I have a son, the other said: I have a daughter. The arbitrator said: Marry them with this gold, spend some on yourselves, and give some in charity.
❖ ⑤ Truthfulness—the key to blessing, lying—the negation of blessing
Truthfulness is essential in the field of trade. It is narrated from Hazrat Rifa’ah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: ( یَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ !) … ( إِنَّ التُّجَّارَ یُبْعَثُونَ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ فُجَّارًا إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّقَی اللّٰہَ وَبَرَّ وَصَدَقَ ) [ترمذی : ۱۲۱۰ : حسن صحیح ، ابن ماجہ :۲۱۴۶] “Traders will be raised on the Day of Judgment as wicked, except those who fear Allah, do good, and speak the truth.”
The blessing of a transaction lies in truthfulness and clarity: ( اَلْبَیِّعَانِ بِالْخِیَارِ مَا لَمْ یَتَفَرَّقَا ، فَإِنْ صَدَقَا وَبَیَّنَا بُوْرِکَ لَہُمَا فِیْ بَیْعِہِمَا ، وَإِنْ کَذَبَا وَکَتَمَا مُحِقَتْ بَرَکَۃُ بَیْعِہِمَا )
Translation: “If both speak the truth and disclose defects, there will be blessing, and lying and concealment remove the blessing.”
In practice, false praises, fake sources, and unrealistic price limits have become common in our markets; all these are matters that remove blessing. Therefore, truthfulness is necessary in every statement and writing.
❖ ⑥ Disclosing Defects—The Basis of Honesty
It is obligatory on the seller to disclose the defects of the goods: ( لَا یَحِلُّ لِأَحَدٍ أَن یَّبِیْعَ شَیْئًا إِلَّا بَیَّنَ مَا فِیْہِ ، وَلَا یَحِلُّ لِمَنْ عَلِمَ ذَلِکَ إِلَّا بَیَّنَہُ ) [ المستدرک : ۲۱۵۷ ۔ صححہ الحاکم ووافقہ الذہبی] And He said: ( اَلْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ ، وَلَا یَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ بَاعَ مِنْ أَخِیْہِ بَیْعًا فِیْہِ عَیْبٌ إِلَّا بَیَّنَہُ لَہُ )
Translation: “A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; selling a defective item without disclosing its defect is not permissible.”
❖ ⑦ Avoiding Deception—The Prohibition of Fraud
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) put his hand into a pile of damp grain and found moisture, then said: ( أَفَلَا جَعَلْتَہُ فَوقَ الطَّعَامِ کَیْ یَرَاہُ النَّاسُ ! مَنْ غَشَّ فَلَیْسَ مِنِّی )
Translation: “Why was it not placed on top so that people could see it? Whoever cheats is not one of me.”
Today, adulteration of food and drink, forgery in labels and dates, trickery to increase weight (such as adding water to meat) are all examples of this fraud.
❖ ⑧ False Oath—The Sale May Occur, But Blessing Is Lost
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: ( ثَلَاثَۃٌ لَا یُکَلِّمُہُمُ اللّٰہُ … اَلْمُسْبِلُ إِزَارَہُ ، وَالْمَنَّانُ ، وَالْمُنْفِقُ سِلْعَتَہُ بِالْحَلِفِ الْکَاذِبِ )
and he also said: ( مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلیٰ یَمِیْنٍ فَاجِرَۃٍ لِیَقْتَطِعَ بِہَا مَالَ امْرِیئٍ مُسْلِمٍ لَقِیَ اللّٰہَ وَہُوَ عَلَیْہِ غَضْبَان ) [ متفق علیہ ] Further statement: ( اَلْحَلِفُ مُنَفِّقَۃٌ لِّلسِّلْعَۃِ وَمُمْحِقَۃٌ لِلْکَسْبِ ) [ البخاری : ۲۰۸۷ ، مسلم :۱۶۰۶] Translation: “By the oath, the merchandise is sold, but the blessing of the earnings is lost.”
Therefore, it is necessary to end the practice of swearing in trade.
❖ ⑨ Avoidance of Shortchanging in Measurement
Allah Almighty has commanded to measure with justice and fairness: ﴿ وَ اَوْفُوا الْکَیْلَ اِذَا کِلْتُمْ وَزِنُوْا بِالْقِسْطَاسِ الْمُسْتَقِیْمِ ذٰلِکَ خَیْرٌ وَّ اَحْسَنُ تَاْوِیْلًا ﴾
“And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with an even balance. That is better and fairer in the end.”
Prophet Shu’aib (peace be upon him) warned his people: ﴿ وَ یٰقَوْمِ اَوْفُوا الْمِکْیَالَ وَ الْمِیْزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَ لَا تَبْخَسُوا النَّاسَ اَشْیَآئَھُمْ وَ لَا تَعْثَوْا فِی الْاَرْضِ مُفْسِدِیْنَ ﴾ [ ہود : ۸۵ ] “O my people! Give full measure and weight with justice, and do not deprive the people of their due, nor commit corruption on the earth.”
Allah Almighty has declared shortchanging in measurement as corruption on the earth and warned: ﴿ وَیْلٌ لِّلْمُطَفِّفِیْنَ ٭ الَّذِیْنَ اِذَا اكْتَالُوْا عَلَی النَّاسِ یَسْتَوْفُوْنَ ٭ وَاِذَا كَالُوْهُمْ اَوْ وَّزَنُوْهُمْ یُخْسِرُوْنَ ﴾ [المطففین : ۱۔۳] “Woe to those who give less in measure and weight, who when they take by measure from others, take full measure, but when they give to others, give less.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ described the consequences of this crime: (وَلَمْ یَنْقُصُوا الْمِکْیَالَ وَالْمِیْزَانَ إِلَّا أُخِذُوْا بِالسِّنِیْنَ وَشِدَّۃِ الْمَؤنَۃِ وَجَوْرِ السُّلْطَانِ عَلَیْہِمْ)
“When a people cheat in measuring and weighing, they are afflicted with famine, inflation, and the oppression of tyrannical rulers.”
The inflation, oppression, and lack of blessings in today’s era are the collective punishment for this crime. The remedy is that we deal justly in measurement and weighing, and even adopt the Sunnah of giving a little extra. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ( زِنْ وَارْجِحْ ) [ ابو داؤد : ۳۳۳۶، ترمذی : ۱۳۰۵ ، نسائی : ۴۵۹۲ ۔ وصححہ الألبانی ] “Weigh and give a little more.”
Similarly, it is preferable to adopt a better method in repaying debts or rights. It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: ( أَعْطُوْہُ فَإِنَّ مِنْ خَیْرِکُمْ أَحْسَنُکُمْ قَضَائً ا) [ البخاری : ۲۳۰۶، مسلم : ۱۶۰۱] “The best among you is the one who repays in the best manner.”
❖ ⑩ Do not neglect the remembrance of Allah and prayer during buying and selling
Allah Almighty praised those merchants who, while engaged in trade, do not neglect prayer and the remembrance of Allah: ﴿فِیْ بُیُوتٍ اَذِنَ اللّٰہُ اَنْ تُرْفَعَ وَیُذْکَرَ فِیْہَا اسْمُہٗ … رِجَالٌ لاَّ تُلْہِیہِمْ تِجَارَۃٌ وَّلاَ بَیْعٌ عَنْ ذِکْرِ اللّٰہِ وَاِقَامِ الصَّلٰوۃِ وَاِیْتَآءِ الزَّکٰوۃِ …﴾
“Those men whom neither trade nor buying and selling distracts from the remembrance of Allah, prayer, and zakat.”
These are the merchants who receive blessings in this world and the Hereafter and are granted abundant sustenance by the grace of Allah.
Rules of Buying and Selling
❖ ① Mutual Consent of Both Parties
Sale is only valid with mutual consent: ﴿ لَا تَاْکُلُوْٓا اَمْوَالَکُمْ بَیْنَکُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ اِلَّآ اَنْ تَکُوْنَ تِجَارَۃً عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِّنْکُمْ ﴾ [النساء : ۲۹] “Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, except through mutual consent in trade.”
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: ( لَا یَتَفَرَّقَنَّ عَنْ بَیْعٍ إِلَّا عَنْ تَرَاضٍ ) [ ترمذی : ۱۲۴۸ ۔ وصححہ الألبانی ] “The buyer and the seller should part with goodwill.”
❖ ② Determination of Profit Margin
Islam has not set any fixed limit on profit but has provided principles of justice, leniency, and goodwill. Imam Muhammad bin Sirin (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “If someone buys something for ten, he may sell it for eleven, and can also include profit on transportation and expenses.”
That is, under normal circumstances, a profit of up to ten percent can be considered moderate. However, earning excessive profit unlawfully, exploiting the hardships of the public, and creating artificial inflation are all un-Islamic behaviors.
❖ ③ The Right to Cancel a Deal
As long as the buyer and seller have not separated, both have the option to either uphold or cancel the deal: ( اَلْبَیِّعَانِ بِالْخِیَارِ مَا لَمْ یَتَفَرَّقَا )
In practice, this right is often overlooked. If the buyer regrets immediately, the seller should not pressure but should willingly accept the return.
❖ ④ Trading in Non-Existent Items is Prohibited
Hazrat Hakim bin Hizam (RA) said: ( نَہَانِی رَسُولُ اللّٰہِ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم أَنْ أَبِیْعَ مَا لَیْسَ عِنْدِیْ )
meaning “Do not trade in what you do not possess.” Because it involves deception, risk, and uncertainty.
❖ ⑤ Trading Before Reaching the Market
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: ( نَہَی أَنْ تُتَلَقَّی السِّلَعُ حَتّٰی تَبْلُغَ الْأسْوَاقَ )
and further said: ( فَمَنْ تَلَقّٰی فَاشْتَرَی مِنْہُ ، فَإِذَا أَتَی سَیِّدُہُ السُّوقَ فَہُوَ بِالْخِیَارِ ) [ مسلم : ۱۵۱۹ ] “Whoever buys a caravan on the way, when the owner reaches the market, he has the option to cancel the deal.”
❖ ⑥ Trading in a Heap Without Measurement
Narrated from Hazrat Jabir (RA): ( نَہَی رَسُولُ اللّٰہِ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم عَنْ بَیْعِ الصُّبْرَۃِ … ) [ مسلم : ۱۵۳۰ ] meaning “Do not trade in heaps of grain without knowing the measure.” Those who did so were punished during the Prophetic era.
❖ ⑦ Selling Forward Without Taking Possession of the Goods
It is narrated from Hazrat Zaid bin Thabitؓ: ( نَہَی أَنْ تُبَاعَ السِّلَعُ حَیْثُ تُبْتَاعُ ، حَتّٰی یَحُوْزَہَا التُّجَّارُ إِلٰی رِحَالِہِمْ ) [ ابو داؤد : ۳۴۹۹ ] meaning, do not sell something forward until you have taken possession of the goods.
❖ ⑧ Interference in Another’s Deal (Bidding on Someone Else’s Bargain)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: ( لَا یَبِیْعُ الرَّجُّلُ عَلٰی بَیْعِ أَخِیْہِ ، وَلَا یَخْطُبُ عَلٰی خِطْبَۃِ أَخِیْہِ ، إِلَّا أَنْ یَّأْذَنَ لَہُ )
“No person should bid on his brother’s bargain nor get engaged to his fiancée except with his permission.”
Similarly, He said: ( لَا یَسُمِ الْمُسْلِمُ عَلَی سَوْمِ أَخِیْہِ ) [ مسلم : ۱۴۱۳ ] meaning it is forbidden to outbid someone else’s deal or to interfere and spoil the bargain.
❖ ⑨ Taking Unjust Advantage of Someone’s Compulsion
Islam commands brotherhood and goodwill. Exploiting someone’s compulsion is against faith.
Hazrat Jarir bin Abdullahؓ says: ( بَایَعْتُ النَّبِیَّ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم عَلَی إِقَامِ الصَّلَاۃِ وَإِیْتَاءِ الزَّکَاۃِ وَالنُّصْحِ لِکُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ ) [ البخاری : ۵۷ ، مسلم : ۵۶ ] “I pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ regarding prayer, zakat, and goodwill towards every Muslim.”
Practical example: Jarir’sؓ servant bought a horse for three hundred. Jarirؓ saw the horse and said its price was more than that, and he himself increased the price and paid eight hundred.
This is true honesty and brotherhood.
❖ ⑩ Retracting a Deal is a Meritorious Act
If the buyer wishes to return the purchased item for any reason and the seller does not suffer any loss, it should be accepted willingly. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: ( مَنْ أَقَالَ مُسْلِمًا أَقَالَہُ اللّٰہُ عَثْرَتَہُ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ ) [ ابو داؤد : ۳۴۶۲ ، ابن ماجہ : ۲۱۹۹ ] “Whoever returns a Muslim’s trade, Allah will forgive his slip on the Day of Judgment.”
❖ ⑪ Trade of Forbidden Items
The buying and selling of things prohibited by Shariah is also forbidden. For example:
- Alcohol, cigarettes, intoxicating substances
- Music and obscene material
- Trade of forbidden animals
- Or earning from any forbidden profession
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said: ( نَہَی عَنْ ثَمَنِ الْکَلْبِ وَمَہْرِ الْبَغِیِّ وَحُلْوَانِ الْکَاہِنِ ) [ البخاری : ۲۲۳۷ ، مسلم : ۱۵۶۷ ] “The price of a dog, the earnings of adultery, and the wages of a soothsayer are forbidden.” He also forbade the price of a cat.
However, a hunting dog is exempt from this.
❖ ⑫ Buying and Selling Stolen Goods
Buying stolen goods, if one knows that they are stolen, is forbidden. Allah Almighty says: ﴿ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوْا عَلَی الْاِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ ﴾
“Do not help one another in sin and transgression.”
The Prophet ﷺ ruled: ( إِذَا كَانَ الَّذِی ابْتَاعَہَا مِنَ الَّذِی سَرَقَہَا غَیْرَ مُتَّہَمٍ، یُخَیَّرُ سَیِّدُہَا…)
“If someone unknowingly buys goods from a thief, the original owner may either pay the price and reclaim the goods or take action against the thief.”
This ruling was also upheld by the Rightly Guided Caliphs.
❖ ⑬ Buying and selling in the mosque is prohibited
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said: ( إِذَا رَأَیْتُمْ مَّنْ یَّبِیْعُ أَوْ یَبْتَاعُ فِی الْمَسْجِدِ فَقُولُوْا: لَا أَرْبَحَ اللّٰہُ تِجَارَتَکَ )
“If you see anyone buying or selling in the mosque, say: May Allah not bless your trade.”
The mosque is for worship, remembrance, and education, not for trade.
❖ ⑭ Usury transactions through trickery
Usury is forbidden and is a declaration of war against Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. However, some people make usury “permissible” through sales tricks, for example:
Bai’ al-‘Inah: A person buys an item on installments at a higher price and immediately sells the same item for a lower price in cash to get the money — in reality, this is usury, not a sale.
Through this trick, money is obtained but both blessing and religion are lost.
❖ ⑮ Hoarding (Ihtikar)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: ( لَا یَحْتَکِرُ إِلَّا خَاطِیٌٔ )
“Only a sinner hoards.”
If a merchant withholds food items to create an artificial shortage, the government has the right to forcibly bring that goods to the market. Islam desires a system of justice and ease in the economy, not exploitation.
Conclusion
✿ Islam declares trade and buying and selling as lawful and commendable acts provided they are based on justice, truthfulness, and honesty. ✿ Lying, cheating, deceit, false oaths, hoarding, shortchanging in weights and measures, trading in unlawful goods, and trickery — all these are forbidden and contrary to faith. ✿ The etiquettes of buying and selling such as gentleness, disclosing defects, speaking the truth, not neglecting the remembrance of Allah, and maintaining brotherhood — all these bring blessings and great reward.
Result
The summary of Islamic teachings is that trade is not only a means of profit but also an act of worship if it includes honesty, mercy, and goodwill. If a trader adopts the principles of Shariah, he will be ranked alongside the Prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs, as mentioned in the hadith: “التاجر الصدوق الأمین مع النبیین والصدیقین والشہداء” — “A truthful and trustworthy merchant will be with the Prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs.”
May Allah grant us the ability to adopt truthfulness, justice, and trustworthiness in our trades. Ameen.
