Quran Verses about Trade

9 ayahs · from 5 surahs

Allah permits trade and forbids riba, and forbids consuming one another's wealth wrongfully except through trade by mutual consent. Transactions on credit are to be written down and witnessed, and there is no sin in seeking Allah's bounty through trade, including during the Hajj season. The verses also praise those whom trade does not distract from remembering Allah, and command leaving trade when called to the Friday prayer.

Allah permits trade and forbids riba

  1. ٱلَّذِينَ يَأۡكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ مِنَ ٱلۡمَسِّۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡبَيۡعُ مِثۡلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡبَيۡعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْۚ فَمَن جَآءَهُۥ مَوۡعِظَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمۡرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ وَمَنۡ عَادَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ٢٧٥

    Al-ladhīna yaʾkulūnar-ribā lā yaqūmūna illā kamā yaqūmul-ladhī yatakhabbaṭuhush-shayṭānu minal-mass, dhālika biʾannahum qālū innamal-bayʿu mithlur-ribā, wa aḥallallāhul-bayʿa wa ḥarramar-ribā, faman jāʾahū mawʿiẓatum mir rabbihī fantahā falahū mā salafa wa amruhū ilallāh, wa man ʿāda fa ulāʾika aṣḥābun-nār, hum fīhā khālidūn.

    Those who consume interest1 cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, "Trade is [just] like interest." But Allāh has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allāh. But whoever returns [to dealing in interest or usury] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. Included is that given on commercial as well as consumer loans.

Trade by mutual consent

  1. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَأۡكُلُوٓاْ أَمۡوَٰلَكُم بَيۡنَكُم بِٱلۡبَٰطِلِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ تِجَٰرَةً عَن تَرَاضٖ مِّنكُمۡۚ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمۡ رَحِيمٗا ٢٩

    Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū lā taʾkulū amwālakum baynakum bil-bāṭili illā an takūna tijāratan ʿan tarāḍim minkum, wa lā taqtulū anfusakum, innallāha kāna bikum raḥīmā.

    O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly1 but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allāh is to you ever Merciful.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. i.e., unlawfully or under false pretense.

Writing down transactions and calling witnesses

  1. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا تَدَايَنتُم بِدَيۡنٍ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗى فَٱكۡتُبُوهُۚ وَلۡيَكۡتُب بَّيۡنَكُمۡ كَاتِبُۢ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِۚ وَلَا يَأۡبَ كَاتِبٌ أَن يَكۡتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ ٱللَّهُۚ فَلۡيَكۡتُبۡ وَلۡيُمۡلِلِ ٱلَّذِي عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَلۡيَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُۥ وَلَا يَبۡخَسۡ مِنۡهُ شَيۡـٔٗاۚ فَإِن كَانَ ٱلَّذِي عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡحَقُّ سَفِيهًا أَوۡ ضَعِيفًا أَوۡ لَا يَسۡتَطِيعُ أَن يُمِلَّ هُوَ فَلۡيُمۡلِلۡ وَلِيُّهُۥ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِۚ وَٱسۡتَشۡهِدُواْ شَهِيدَيۡنِ مِن رِّجَالِكُمۡۖ فَإِن لَّمۡ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيۡنِ فَرَجُلٞ وَٱمۡرَأَتَانِ مِمَّن تَرۡضَوۡنَ مِنَ ٱلشُّهَدَآءِ أَن تَضِلَّ إِحۡدَىٰهُمَا فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحۡدَىٰهُمَا ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰۚ وَلَا يَأۡبَ ٱلشُّهَدَآءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُواْۚ وَلَا تَسۡـَٔمُوٓاْ أَن تَكۡتُبُوهُ صَغِيرًا أَوۡ كَبِيرًا إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلِهِۦۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ أَقۡسَطُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقۡوَمُ لِلشَّهَٰدَةِ وَأَدۡنَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَرۡتَابُوٓاْ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ تِجَٰرَةً حَاضِرَةٗ تُدِيرُونَهَا بَيۡنَكُمۡ فَلَيۡسَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ جُنَاحٌ أَلَّا تَكۡتُبُوهَاۗ وَأَشۡهِدُوٓاْ إِذَا تَبَايَعۡتُمۡۚ وَلَا يُضَآرَّ كَاتِبٞ وَلَا شَهِيدٞۚ وَإِن تَفۡعَلُواْ فَإِنَّهُۥ فُسُوقُۢ بِكُمۡۗ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۖ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱللَّهُۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٞ ٢٨٢

    Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū idhā tadāyantum bidaynin ilā ajalim musamman faktubūh, walyaktub baynakum kātibum bil-ʿadl, wa lā yaʾba kātibun ay yaktuba kamā ʿallamahullāh, falyaktub walyumlilil-ladhī ʿalayhil-ḥaqqu walyattaqillāha rabbahū wa lā yabkhas minhu shayʾā, fa in kānal-ladhī ʿalayhil-ḥaqqu safīhan aw ḍaʿīfan aw lā yastaṭīʿu ay yumilla huwa falyumlil waliyyuhū bil-ʿadl, wastashhidū shahīdayni mir rijālikum, fa il lam yakūnā rajulayni farajuluw wamraʾatāni mimman tarḍawna minash-shuhadāʾi an taḍilla iḥdāhumā fatudhakkira iḥdāhumal-ukhrā, wa lā yaʾbash-shuhadāʾu idhā mā duʿū, wa lā tasʾamū an taktubūhu ṣaghīran aw kabīran ilā ajalih, dhālikum aqsaṭu ʿindallāhi wa aqwamu lish-shahādati wa adnā allā tartābū illā an takūna tijāratan ḥāḍiratan tudīrūnahā baynakum falaysa ʿalaykum junāḥun allā taktubūhā, wa ashhidū idhā tabāyaʿtum, wa lā yuḍārra kātibuw wa lā shahīd, wa in tafʿalū fa innahū fusūqum bikum, wattaqullāh, wa yuʿallimukumullāh, wallāhu bikulli shayʾin ʿalīm.

    O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. And let a scribe write [it] between you in justice. Let no scribe refuse to write as Allāh has taught him. So let him write and let the one who has the obligation [i.e., the debtor] dictate. And let him fear Allāh, his Lord, and not leave anything out of it. But if the one who has the obligation is of limited understanding or weak or unable to dictate himself, then let his guardian dictate in justice. And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses - so that if one of them [i.e., the women] errs, then the other can remind her. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are called upon. And do not be [too] weary to write it, whether it is small or large, for its [specified] term. That is more just in the sight of Allāh and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt between you, except when it is an immediate transaction which you conduct among yourselves. For [then] there is no blame upon you if you do not write it. And take witnesses when you conclude a contract. Let no scribe be harmed or any witness. For if you do so, indeed, it is [grave] disobedience in you. And fear Allāh. And Allāh teaches you. And Allāh is Knowing of all things.

Seeking Allah's bounty through trade

  1. لَيۡسَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبۡتَغُواْ فَضۡلٗا مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡۚ فَإِذَآ أَفَضۡتُم مِّنۡ عَرَفَٰتٖ فَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عِندَ ٱلۡمَشۡعَرِ ٱلۡحَرَامِۖ وَٱذۡكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَىٰكُمۡ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبۡلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ١٩٨

    Laysa ʿalaykum junāḥun an tabtaghū faḍlam mir rabbikum, fa idhā afaḍtum min ʿarafātin fadhkurullāha ʿindal-mashʿaril-ḥarām, wadhkurūhu kamā hadākum wa in kuntum min qablihī laminaḍ-ḍāllīn.

    There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty1 from your Lord [during ḥajj]. But when you depart from ʿArafāt, remember Allāh at al-Mashʿar al-Ḥarām.2 And remember Him, as He has guided you, for indeed, you were before that among those astray.

    Footnotes (2)
    1. i.e., profit from trade or business.
    2. Which is in Muzdalifah.
  1. لِإِيلَٰفِ قُرَيۡشٍ ١

    Liʾīlāfi quraysh.

    For the accustomed security of the Quraysh1 -

    Footnotes (1)
    1. i.e., the honor and reputation Allāh had given them as guardians of the Holy Kaʿbah, which allowed them to travel without fear of being harmed.
  2. إِۦلَٰفِهِمۡ رِحۡلَةَ ٱلشِّتَآءِ وَٱلصَّيۡفِ ٢

    Īlāfihim riḥlatash-shitāʾi waṣ-ṣayf.

    Their accustomed security [in] the caravan of winter and summer1 -

    Footnotes (1)
    1. i.e., the trading caravans that traveled south in winter and north in summer.

Trade that does not distract from remembering Allah

  1. فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ ٱللَّهُ أَن تُرۡفَعَ وَيُذۡكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسۡمُهُۥ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ فِيهَا بِٱلۡغُدُوِّ وَٱلۡأٓصَالِ ٣٦

    Fī buyūtin adhinallāhu an turfaʿa wa yudhkara fīhasmuhū yusabbiḥu lahū fīhā bil-ghuduwwi wal-āṣāl.

    [Such niches are] in houses [i.e., mosques] which Allāh has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned [i.e., praised] therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings1

    Footnotes (1)
    1. The term used here can refer to either afternoon or evening.
  2. رِجَالٞ لَّا تُلۡهِيهِمۡ تِجَٰرَةٞ وَلَا بَيۡعٌ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِيتَآءِ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوۡمٗا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرُ ٣٧

    Rijālul lā tulhīhim tijāratuw wa lā bayʿun ʿan dhikrillāhi wa iqāmiṣ-ṣalāti wa ītāʾiz-zakāti yakhāfūna yawman tataqallabu fīhil-qulūbu wal-abṣār.

    [Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allāh and performance of prayer and giving of zakāh. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about -

  1. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ٩

    Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū idhā nūdiya liṣ-ṣalāti miy yawmil-jumuʿati fasʿaw ilā dhikrillāhi wadharul-bayʿ, dhālikum khayrul lakum in kuntum taʿlamūn.

    O you who have believed, when [the adhān] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumuʿah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allāh and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.

  2. فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱبۡتَغُواْ مِن فَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرٗا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ ١٠

    Fa idhā quḍiyatiṣ-ṣalātu fantashirū fil-arḍi wabtaghū min faḍlillāhi wadhkurullāha kathīral laʿallakum tufliḥūn.

    And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allāh, and remember Allāh often that you may succeed.

  3. وَإِذَا رَأَوۡاْ تِجَٰرَةً أَوۡ لَهۡوًا ٱنفَضُّوٓاْ إِلَيۡهَا وَتَرَكُوكَ قَآئِمٗاۚ قُلۡ مَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهۡوِ وَمِنَ ٱلتِّجَٰرَةِۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ ١١

    Wa idhā raʾaw tijāratan aw lahwaninfaḍḍū ilayhā wa tarakūka qāʾimā, qul mā ʿindallāhi khayrum minal-lahwi wa minat-tijārah, wallāhu khayrur-rāziqīn.

    But [on one occasion] when they saw a transaction or a diversion, [O Muḥammad], they rushed to it and left you standing. Say, "What is with Allāh is better than diversion and than a transaction, and Allāh is the best of providers."