selling adulterated goods, fraud and ill-manners get developed within them. Whereas, our pious predecessors’ dealings were not like that at all. How would they deal in such situations, let us listen to two parables.

1. Return my money

Once upon a time, silk cloth became expensive in Basra. When Sayyiduna Yunus Bin ‘Ubayd رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه came to know about it, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه bought silk cloth worth 30 thousand dirhams from a person. After buying it, he asked the seller, ‘Do you know that silk cloth has gone expensive at such and such a place?’ He said, ‘No. Had I known, I wouldn’t have sold it.’ Listening to it, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said, ‘Take your goods and return my money.’ Therefore, he (the seller) returned his 30 thousand dirhams. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 6, pp. 464)

It was undoubtedly an act of goodness from Sayyiduna Yunus Bin ‘Ubayd             رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه to that person that he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه told him about the silk cloth becoming expensive. Whereas, such people also exist in our society who take benefit from the unawareness of the other person and keep the fact of price rise concealed to themselves. In fact, some even lie saying that the price has not risen yet.

2. The way of trade of Shaykh Sari Saqati

The famous saint of the spiritual chain of the Qadiriyyah, Sayyiduna Sari Saqati رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was the disciple of Sayyiduna Ma’roof Karkhi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه and the teacher and (maternal) uncle of Sayyiduna Junayd Baghdadi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. Initially, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه used to sell small ordinary things. With this relation, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه is called “Saqati” (i.e. the one who sells goods in a basket).

It is narrated that he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would buy and sell goods. Moreover, he would only take a half dinar profit over the sales of 10 dinars. Even if someone would give him more than that, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would not take it even then. (Tazkira-tul-Awliya, Juz: 1, pp. 246)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب           صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد