Government, masses urged to ensure honesty in business

LAHORE: Speakers at a conference urged the countrymen and government to ensure the golden Islamic principles of honesty, sincerity and piety in the trade and commerce, whose absence in the society was not only worsening the business environment and prestige of traders but it was also earning the wrath of The Almighty for violating the Islamic principles.
They said this while addressing the 8th Annual Seeratun Nabi Conference organised by Mir Khalilur Rahman Memorial Society and Institute of Cost Management Accountants (ICMA) titled ‘Holy Prophet (PBUH) as Role Model for Business World’.
Punjab Minister for Educaiton Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan said Pakistan was created in the name of Islam but unfortunately it was made a laboratory for infidel systems afterwards at the behest of anti-Muslim forces and enemies of the country. He said it was the need of hour that we should shun lip-service for Islam and adopt the practices of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He said the Prophet (PBUH) had been practising the teachings of Islam much before he was ascended to the status of prophet and was known among infidels of Makkah as ‘Sadiq’ and ‘Ameen’.
LCCI President Ijaz Ahmad Mumtaz said the Prophet (PBUH) proved himself as an honest trader even at the age of 20, stressed that nobody should give oath just for selling products and cursed upon those who took and gave bribe. He said the causes of our present day economic crises lay in adopting the golden practices of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Secretary Auqaf Punjab Habibur Rehman Gilani said Islam descended in the embodiment of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who had been a trader but it was sheer unfortunate that the desire to earn livelihood judiciously had been on the decline in our society. He said some traders also put the prestige of the country at stake while exporting goods to other countries as a result the whole nation suffered credibility in the eyes of the world.
Jamiat Ahle Hadith leader Allama Ibtesam Elahi Zaheer said it was very painful to see that the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was oblivious of his golden principle of Halal and Haram in the trade. He stressed that the biggest curse on a society and trade was the interests which, unfortunately, had been thrust upon the country only because of the self-seeking rulers who had made an appeal before the Supreme Court against the Federal Shairat Court judgment that every kind of interest based economy and banking was Haram and violation of the constitution.
Lahore High Court Bar Association President Masood Chishti said it was a matter of concern that every stratum of the society was facing degeneration, especially trader community. He said hoarders and profiteers became overtime active on the eve of every festival and celebration to fleece the poor people. He said the Holy Prophet (PBUH) declared the trade as a worship but we took it as a profiteering tool only.
Maulana Muhammad Hussain Akbar said the Prophet (PBUH) declared trade as the best occupation and the source of blessings. Khateeb of Masjid Abi Talib Maulana Abdul Sattar Niazi said trade was the first occupation of the human beings and messengers of Allah Almighty from Prophet Adam (AS) to the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He said the Prophet (PBUH) declared that honest and truthful trader would be among prophets in the Day of Judgment.
ICMA Director Zia Mustafa Awan said Hazrat Umar (RA) stated that a man was not recognised from his prayers and worship but from his dealings. He said ICMA would publish a booklet consisting of the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) regarding the trade and commerce. He said non-Muslims had progressed much ahead of Muslims because they had adopted the golden principles of the Prophet (PBUH). MKRMS chairman Wasif Nagi also spoke.