Surah An-Noor (24) — Ayah 37

(Ayah 37) ➊ The tanween on { رِجَالٌ لَّا تُلْهِيْهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَّ لَا بَيْعٌ … : ’’ رِجَالٌ ‘‘} is for emphasis, therefore it has been translated as "men of great stature." Here, a question arises: what is the need to mention "sale" after "trade," when sale is also a part of trade? The answer is that trade is a broad activity, which includes traveling to purchase various items, buying them at the right place, at the right time, and at the right price, storing them safely, then waiting for the right opportunity to sell, sitting at the shop, waiting for customers, and finally selling at the appropriate time—all of this is included. After stating that these great men are not distracted from the remembrance of Allah, establishing prayer, and giving zakat by any activity required in trade, Allah specifically mentioned the act which is the result of all the effort in trade, and that is sale. This word is used for both selling and buying, meaning that none of the activities required in trade distract these servants of Allah from His remembrance, not even the act of buying and selling, which is the result of all the effort in trade and from which profit is gained. Even when the call to prayer is given, whether something is being sold or bought, and no matter how much profit is being made, they kick away this worldly gain and present themselves in the house of Allah.

➋ By the remembrance of Allah in {عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ :}, both remembering Him in the heart and mentioning Him with the tongue are meant, i.e., they do not forget Allah at any moment in trade, even at the time of buying and selling, nor do they do anything in any deal that He has forbidden, and their tongues are always busy with the remembrance of Allah. They say "Alhamdulillah," "Subhanallah," "MashaAllah," etc., on every occasion, and even in silence, their tongues remain moist with the remembrance of Allah. They adhere to this command: [ لَا يَزَالُ لِسَانُكَ رَطْبًا مِّنْ ذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ ] [ ترمذي، الدعوات، باب ما جاء في فضل الذکر : ۳۳۷۵ ] "Let your tongue always remain moist with the remembrance of Allah." And to Allah’s command: «{ يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللّٰهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيْرًا }» [ الأحزاب : ۴۱ ] "O you who have believed! Remember Allah with much remembrance."

➌ In { وَ اِقَامِ الصَّلٰوةِ وَ اِيْتَآءِ الزَّكٰوةِ:}, establishing prayer includes performing it on time and fulfilling all its pillars correctly, i.e., no trade or buying and selling causes them to be negligent in the remembrance of Allah, establishing prayer, or giving zakat.

➍ From this verse, it is understood that Islam does not teach to abandon worldly business and just keep remembering Allah; this is monasticism, which Allah has not taught. All the great prophets of Allah used to earn their livelihood through hard work: Adam (peace be upon him) used to herd livestock, farm, engage in crafts, and do all necessary work himself. Zakariya (peace be upon him) was a carpenter, Dawud (peace be upon him) used to make armor. All the prophets have herded goats; our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) herded goats for wages before prophethood and also did trade. In the end, Allah placed his sustenance under the shadow of his spear. The same was the case with the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them): some raised livestock, some were farmers, some were craftsmen, some were traders, some were laborers, but all participated in jihad, which is the most honorable means of earning. In reality, the command to give zakat also encourages earning lawful income, for if one does not earn wealth, from where will he give zakat? That is why, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called for charity, some Companions would carry loads and some would draw water all night, and whatever they earned, they would present. See the commentary of Surah Tawbah, verse (79).

The misfortune of the Muslim Ummah began the day those people were declared as friends of Allah who, far from striving in jihad, even abandoned earning lawfully and, in the name of trust in Allah, began to live off the morsels of others. Influenced by their abandonment of the world and self-made asceticism, people began to lavish their wealth on them, thinking that through the blessings of these elders, they too would be forgiven without doing anything. When these individuals became the standard of piety in the eyes of the people, the disbelievers found the opportunity to attack the Muslims. When these highest-ranking people abandoned trade, industry, agriculture, and warfare, then in the eyes of the public and rulers, these activities were considered worldliness. The result is the slavery whose torment the Muslim Ummah is suffering. Until this Ummah understands the reality of these honorable monks who pray a thousand rak‘ahs daily, abandon the world, leave mosques to populate khanqahs, spend their lives in the thought of some beloved or shaykh, and live off the scraps of others, and does not return to the practice of the best generations—the Companions and Followers—no power can save them from humiliation and disgrace.

➎ What Allah requires is that His servants do all lawful worldly activities, but these activities should not become a barrier to His remembrance and the fulfillment of His commands. Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him), after quoting the verse «{ رِجَالٌ لَّا تُلْهِيْهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَّ لَا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ }» in the chapter of {’’كِتَابُ الْبُيُوْعِ، بَابُ التِّجَارَةِ فِي الْبَزِّ وَ غَيْرِهِ‘‘} (trade of clothes, etc.), has narrated the statement of the great Follower Qatadah, in which he described the condition of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). He said: [ كَانَ الْقَوْمُ يَتَبَايَعُوْنَ وَ يَتَّجِرُوْنَ وَلٰكِنَّهُمْ إِذَا نَابَهُمْ حَقٌّ مِنْ حُقُوْقِ اللّٰهِ لَمْ تُلْهِهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ حَتّٰہ يُؤَدُّوْهُ إِلَی اللّٰهِ] [بخاري، بعد ح : ۲۰۵۹ ] "They used to buy and sell and trade, but when any of Allah’s rights came before them, no trade or buying and selling distracted them from fulfilling that right of Allah."

➏ Here, a question arises: among those who glorify Allah in His houses, only men are mentioned here, so can women not go to the mosque? The answer is that here, the manliness of those is mentioned who leave trade and buying and selling and join the congregation in the mosques, and obviously, this is the work of men, not women. (Razi) As for women coming to the mosque, it is well known that they used to participate in the congregation in the Prophet’s Mosque, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) allowed them to come to the mosques and forbade preventing them. Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "One of Umar’s wives used to pray Fajr and Isha in congregation at the mosque (Umar disliked it and was protective). Someone said to her: 'Why do you go out when you know Umar dislikes it and is protective?' She said: 'What prevents him from stopping me?' He said, 'The saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prevents him: [ لَا تَمْنَعُوْا إِمَاءَ اللّٰهِ مَسَاجِدَ اللّٰهِ ] [ بخاري، الجمعۃ، باب : ۹۰۰ ] "Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from the mosques of Allah."' However, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) considered it better for women to pray at home. Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ لَا تَمْنَعُوْا نِسَاءَكُمُ الْمَسَاجِدَ وَ بُيُوْتُهُنَّ خَيْرٌ لَّهُنَّ ] [ أبوداوٗد، الصلاۃ، باب ما جاء في خروج النساء إلی المسجد : ۵۶۷ ] "Do not prevent your women from the mosques, and their houses are better for them."

➐ { يَخَافُوْنَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيْهِ الْقُلُوْبُ وَ الْاَبْصَارُ :} That is, the remembrance and glorification of Allah by these men in His houses is because of the fear of the Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned, i.e., hearts and eyes will leave their usual place due to the intensity of fear and anxiety, as He said: «{ وَ اَنْذِرْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْاٰزِفَةِ اِذِ الْقُلُوْبُ لَدَى الْحَنَاجِرِ كٰظِمِيْنَ }» [ المؤمن : ۱۸ ] "And warn them of the approaching Day when hearts will be at the throats, filled with grief." And He said: «{ اِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيْهِ الْاَبْصَارُ }» [ إبراھیم : ۴۲ ] "He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare in horror."