Is Working in Retail Haram or Halal For a Muslim?
C.J Ahmed-16.05.2023
Retail trade is to sell goods in smaller quantity as opposed to wholesales which deals with large scales selling of goods. There is nothing haram in engaging or working under retail businesses.
Allah (swt) says in the Quran,
“But Allāh has permitted trade and has forbidden interest.” (2:275)
There are certain things disliked when engaging in trade such as excessive swearing.
Abu Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (sal) saying, "Beware of excessive swearing in sale, because it may promote trade but this practice will eliminate the blessing."(Muslim)
The prophet (sal) never objected to selling something haram. Take silk for an example.Although is haram for men in large mounts, it is not haram for women or non-Muslims. The same can be said about selling alcoholic beer or pork because the non –Muslims consume these.
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
`Umar saw a silken cloak being sold in the market and he brought it to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! Buy this cloak and adorn yourself with it on the `Id festivals and on meeting the delegations." Allah's Messenger (sal) replied, "This is the dress for the one who will have no share in the Hereafter (or, this is worn by one who will have no share in the Hereafter)." After sometime had passed, Allah's Messenger (sal) sent a silken cloak to `Umar. `Umar took it and brought it to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! You have said that this is the dress of that who will have no share in the Hereafter (or, this is worn by one who will have no share in the Hereafter), yet you have sent me this!" The Prophet (sal) said," I have sent it) so that you may sell it or fulfill with it some of your needs." (Sahih al Bukhari)
Another narration said the following,
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:
`Umar saw a silk suit being sold, so he said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! Why don't you buy it so that you may wear it when delegates come to you, and also on Fridays?" The Prophet (sal) said, "This is worn only by him who has no share in the Hereafter." Afterwards the Prophet (sal) sent to `Umar a silk suit suitable for wearing. `Umar said to the Prophet, "You have given it to me to wear, yet I have heard you saying about it what you said?" The Prophet (sal) said, "I sent it to you so that you might either sell it or give it to somebody else to wear."(Sahih al Bukhari)
Narrated Ibn `Umar
My father, seeing a silken cloak being sold, said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! Buy this and wear it on Fridays and when the foreign delegates pay a visit to you." He said, "This is worn only by that person who will have no share in the Hereafter." Later a few silken cloaks were given to the Prophet (sal) as a gift, and he sent one of those cloaks to `Umar. `Umar said (to the Prophet), "How can I wear it while you have said about it what you said?" The Prophet (sal) said, "I did not give it to you to wear but to sell or to give to someone else to wear." So `Umar sent it to his (pagan) brother who was from the inhabitants of Mecca before he (`Umar's brother) embraced Islam. (Sahih al Bukhari)
Abdullah b. Umar reported:
'Umar b. at-Khattab found a silk garment being sold in the market; he purchased it and brought it to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said: Allah's Messenger, get it and adorn yourself (by wearing it) on the 'Id (days) and for the delegation. Thereupon, Allah's Messenger (sal) said: That is the dress of one who has no share (in the Hereafter). 'Umar stayed there so long as Allah wished. Then Allah's Messenger (sal) sent him a silk cloak. 'Umar came back with that to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said: Allah's Messenger. you said that it is the dress of one who has no share in the Hereafter, but then you sent it to me. Thereupon, Allah's Messenger (sal) said: Sell it and benefit from its price” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Retail trade is to sell goods in smaller quantity as opposed to wholesales which deals with large scales selling of goods. There is nothing haram in engaging or working under retail businesses.
Allah (swt) says in the Quran,
“But Allāh has permitted trade and has forbidden interest.” (2:275)
There are certain things disliked when engaging in trade such as excessive swearing.
Abu Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (sal) saying, "Beware of excessive swearing in sale, because it may promote trade but this practice will eliminate the blessing."(Muslim)
The prophet (sal) never objected to selling something haram. Take silk for an example.Although is haram for men in large mounts, it is not haram for women or non-Muslims. The same can be said about selling alcoholic beer or pork because the non –Muslims consume these.
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
`Umar saw a silken cloak being sold in the market and he brought it to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! Buy this cloak and adorn yourself with it on the `Id festivals and on meeting the delegations." Allah's Messenger (sal) replied, "This is the dress for the one who will have no share in the Hereafter (or, this is worn by one who will have no share in the Hereafter)." After sometime had passed, Allah's Messenger (sal) sent a silken cloak to `Umar. `Umar took it and brought it to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! You have said that this is the dress of that who will have no share in the Hereafter (or, this is worn by one who will have no share in the Hereafter), yet you have sent me this!" The Prophet (sal) said," I have sent it) so that you may sell it or fulfill with it some of your needs." (Sahih al Bukhari)
Another narration said the following,
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:
`Umar saw a silk suit being sold, so he said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! Why don't you buy it so that you may wear it when delegates come to you, and also on Fridays?" The Prophet (sal) said, "This is worn only by him who has no share in the Hereafter." Afterwards the Prophet (sal) sent to `Umar a silk suit suitable for wearing. `Umar said to the Prophet, "You have given it to me to wear, yet I have heard you saying about it what you said?" The Prophet (sal) said, "I sent it to you so that you might either sell it or give it to somebody else to wear."(Sahih al Bukhari)
Narrated Ibn `Umar
My father, seeing a silken cloak being sold, said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! Buy this and wear it on Fridays and when the foreign delegates pay a visit to you." He said, "This is worn only by that person who will have no share in the Hereafter." Later a few silken cloaks were given to the Prophet (sal) as a gift, and he sent one of those cloaks to `Umar. `Umar said (to the Prophet), "How can I wear it while you have said about it what you said?" The Prophet (sal) said, "I did not give it to you to wear but to sell or to give to someone else to wear." So `Umar sent it to his (pagan) brother who was from the inhabitants of Mecca before he (`Umar's brother) embraced Islam. (Sahih al Bukhari)
Abdullah b. Umar reported:
'Umar b. at-Khattab found a silk garment being sold in the market; he purchased it and brought it to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said: Allah's Messenger, get it and adorn yourself (by wearing it) on the 'Id (days) and for the delegation. Thereupon, Allah's Messenger (sal) said: That is the dress of one who has no share (in the Hereafter). 'Umar stayed there so long as Allah wished. Then Allah's Messenger (sal) sent him a silk cloak. 'Umar came back with that to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said: Allah's Messenger. you said that it is the dress of one who has no share in the Hereafter, but then you sent it to me. Thereupon, Allah's Messenger (sal) said: Sell it and benefit from its price” (Bukhari and Muslim)