Rahman رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه sent some items, and Imam Abu Hanifa رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said, “O Hafs! This piece of clothing is defective. Be sure to mention its defect before selling it.” Sayyiduna Hafs رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه sold the piece of clothing but forgot to mention its defect, and he forgot who he sold it to. When Imam Abu Hanifa رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه became aware of this, he gave the monetary value of all the clothes to charity.^[1]

Dear Islamic brothers, Imam Abu Hanifa’s business partner forgot to tell the customer about the defects of the product. So, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه decided to give away the money received for the clothes to charity. It is unfortunate that people in our society purposely choose to hide the defects in their products. They even take false oaths to convince the customer the products are perfect.

Our morals and etiquettes have fallen to the extent that if we are successful in deceiving someone, we consider it a great victory. We will congratulate our children if they behave like this and pat them on their backs. We encourage them to do this and think they have matured. However, if something like this does occur, it is the duty of the parents to tell their children what they did wrong and encourage them not to do it again. Otherwise, this misfortune can be the cause of the downfall of our business and ruin in this world, and we could become disgraced in the hereafter and become worthy of divine punishment.

Those who are deceitful should ponder over this Hadith: the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: لا يُؤْمِنُ اَحَدُكُمْ حَتّٰى يُحِبَّ لِاَخِيْهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهٖ - “None of you will be a complete believer until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself.”^[2] So, which person would love to be given diluted products, be deceived and lied to, have interest taken from them, have bribes taken from them or be taken advantage of and have their pockets