Call to follow Muslim way of business
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
MUSLIMS engaged in business are encouraged to take advantage of the holy month of Ramadhan to be more conscious about observing proper business etiquette in line with the teachings of Islam.
Whilst Islam encourages its ummah (followers) to engage themselves in healthy business transactions to make a living and contribute to the well being of the economy, there are certain precautions that need to be observed. These include the restriction put on charging interest and the need to be honest about the nature of the items being sold.
Speaking to The Brunei Times, an officer at the Sultan Sharif Ali Mosque in Kampung Sengkurong urged business owners not to neglect the compulsory daily prayers.
"It is easy to be engrossed in your business, however, I sometimes notice that people pay very little attention to performing their solat (prayers)," said the officer who declined to be named.
Business operators should not be afraid to lose 10 minutes of their time to be close to Allah (SWT), the officer said.
Shopowners as well as market vendors in Brunei should perhaps follow business norms in Saudi Arabia where shops close for less than an hour to give both business owners and employees alike to perform the obligatory solat.
Cheating, although not a very prevalent problem in Brunei, is also forbidden in Islam.
"It is crucial that as a business operator, you must always show your scales to your customer, so they know the exact weight of the item they are intending to buy (especially applicable to vendors selling item sold by weight)," he said, stressing the importance of transparency and honesty.
The charging of interest is central to businesses in Western nations, but this is forbidden under Syariah law. Business owners must refrain from charging interest especially when managing instalment purchases, the officer said.
Islam considers its ummah who conduct business in accordance to the sanctity of its regulations as jihads.
The Brunei Times
Whilst Islam encourages its ummah (followers) to engage themselves in healthy business transactions to make a living and contribute to the well being of the economy, there are certain precautions that need to be observed. These include the restriction put on charging interest and the need to be honest about the nature of the items being sold.
Speaking to The Brunei Times, an officer at the Sultan Sharif Ali Mosque in Kampung Sengkurong urged business owners not to neglect the compulsory daily prayers.
"It is easy to be engrossed in your business, however, I sometimes notice that people pay very little attention to performing their solat (prayers)," said the officer who declined to be named.
Business operators should not be afraid to lose 10 minutes of their time to be close to Allah (SWT), the officer said.
Shopowners as well as market vendors in Brunei should perhaps follow business norms in Saudi Arabia where shops close for less than an hour to give both business owners and employees alike to perform the obligatory solat.
Cheating, although not a very prevalent problem in Brunei, is also forbidden in Islam.
"It is crucial that as a business operator, you must always show your scales to your customer, so they know the exact weight of the item they are intending to buy (especially applicable to vendors selling item sold by weight)," he said, stressing the importance of transparency and honesty.
The charging of interest is central to businesses in Western nations, but this is forbidden under Syariah law. Business owners must refrain from charging interest especially when managing instalment purchases, the officer said.
Islam considers its ummah who conduct business in accordance to the sanctity of its regulations as jihads.
The Brunei Times
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