Gave the price of cloths as Sadaqah

The leader of millions of Hanafis, Sayyiduna Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifahرَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was engaged in trade to earn a Halal livelihood. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was a prominent cloth trader and would follow Islamic principles. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه even as a trader would do good to Muslims and do them favours.

Sayyiduna Hafs Bin ‘Abdur Rahman رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: Sayyiduna Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would do trade with me and while sending me goods he would tell me, ‘O Hafs! Such and such cloth has some defect, mention it to the buyer when you sell it.’ Once Sayyiduna Hafs رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه sold the goods of trade but forgot to tell about the defect when selling it. When Sayyiduna Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه learnt about it, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه gave the amount of the entire cloth as Sadaqah. (Tareekh-e-Baghdad, vol. 13, pp. 356)

Dear Islamic sisters! You have just heard how careful and cautious Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was about earning a Halal livelihood and refraining from the morsel of Haraam and doubtful things. Undoubtedly, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه knew that Haraam and doubtful things can bring no blessing at all, whereas blessings lie completely in Halal and pure things. Perhaps, for this reason he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه did not like to keep the earnings from the sold cloth and donated all of them in the path of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

The above-mentioned parable contains admonitory Madani pearls for those Islamic sisters whose purpose of life is to only accumulate wealth and increase bank balance. These people sometimes, driven by pure greed for wealth cause damage not only to themselves but also to their family members. Remember! The more wealth one possesses in the world, the greater accountability she will face in the Hereafter. We, therefore, should always avoid Haraam things and try to earn a Halal and pure livelihood and also persuade others Maharims to do the same so that we can also attain the excellence of Halal.

Mentioning the excellence of Halal, Hujjat-ul-Islam, Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said that some pious predecessors have stated: ‘When a Muslim eats the first morsel of Halal food, his previous sins are forgiven. (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 2, pp. 116)