In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Abu Hurayra states that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
The most beloved places on Earth to Allah are its mosques, and the most despised places on Earth to Allah are its markets.[Muslim].
From all the places on Earth, Allah loves the mosques above all else. They fulfill the most important function. They are the places where those on Earth make contact with their Creator and Sustainer.
The marketplace is not "the most despised places on Earth to Allah" because of the buying and selling that goes on there but because of all the deception and fraud that goes on in the marketplace. The markets are places where false measure is given, and where every day false oaths are sworn. They are places of wastefulness, stinginess, avarice, wrangling, and disputation.
The mosque and the marketplace are both integral parts of society and it is permissible to engage in buying and selling. But, people must not allow their commerce distract them from the remembrance of Allah. There is harmony between the rights of this world and the rights of the Hereafter.
Allah Almighty says,
وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّـهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِن كَمَا أَحْسَنَ اللَّـهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَلَا تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٧٧[Qur'an al-Qasas 28:77]
But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters. (77)
In the marketplace (whether real/physical or virtual/online), the world is presented with all its glory and glitter. And people tend to forget Allah. Let us remind ourselves that Allah alone can fulfill our needs. Our money has no power. Allah alone has power over everything. The actual control is with Allah only. Everything else are just means. Allah created these means for us to draw closer to Him, not for us to be heedless of Him.
The tall buildings of the market, the displays/showcases, people browsing and shopping and so on, should not make us forget that everything belong to Allah. When you see new products, new gadgets, latest fashions, or anything that is enticing us to buy, don't be mesmerized by them, but you praise Allah that He has endowed humans with all the resources and ability. He Alone gives the mind, the materials, the ideas to people and all the resources so that people could invent new things and produce things for human consumption.
We should not think the things will give us benefit and enjoyment. If Allah wills, these same things can become poison and cause problems for us. You might have your favorite dinner out in your favorite local restaurant with your favorite person only to spend painful weeks of effects of food poisoning, or you might finally able to buy your dream car only to get into a fatal accident, or you might buy the latest model phone for your spouse only to keep him/her on the phone all day/night playing games or texting, etc., and neglecting you and your kids. Things cannot have any good in them on their own. You can enjoy them only if Allah places good in them. He alone can help us benefit from these things. All good is in Allah's hands only.
The market represents the peak of life in any place, full of worldly attractions and glitter. We should remember that this market life is given by Allah only. One day all this glitter will end. Those who visit it happily and those who sell and buy – all are going to die. Only Allah's presence will remain forever.
When entering the market, it is recommend to recite this invocation so we are reminded of Allah, the One Who has power over all things, unto Whom you shall return.
La 'ilaha 'illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, yuhyi wa yumitu, wa Huwa hayyun la yamutu, biyadihil-khayru, wa Huwa 'ala kulli shay in Qadir.
None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise. He brings life and He causes death, and He is living and does not die. In His Hand is all good, and He is Able to do all things. [Tirmidhi]
May Allah protect us from being drowned in the marketplace and heedless of Allah. May Allah help us benefit from all the things He has given us. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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