Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was born in Makkah Mukarramah and lived there for fifty-three years before making hijrah to Madinah Munawwarah. During the fifty-three-year period that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) lived in Makkah Mukarramah, the people of Makkah Mukarramah had the opportunity to directly witness his blessed conduct and noble character.
All the people in Makkah Mukarramah loved Rasulullah (sallallalhu ‘alaihi wasallam) dearly on account of the sublime and noble qualities which Allah Ta‘ala blessed him with, until they conferred upon him the title Al-Ameen (the Most Trustworthy Person).
Dawood bin Husain reports that the people of Makkah would say regarding Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that from his youth, he was considered to be the most dignified and respectful person among his people, the one possessing the best character, and the one who would enquire most about the wellbeing of his neighbors. Similarly, he was regarded as the most forbearing and tolerant person, the most truthful and trustworthy, the most distant from arguing with people, and the most distant from getting involved in every type of immorality and evil. This is why his people conferred the title of Al-Ameen (the truthful one) upon him. (Tabaqaat Ibnu Sa’d 1/97)
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) engaged in trade and business prior to receiving nubuwwah, and his honesty and truthfulness in trade was well-known among the people. Many people bore testimony towards the honesty of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the good conduct he showed towards people while doing business.
Below are some of the reports of people regarding his honesty and the beautiful conduct he displayed when doing business:
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abil Hamsaa (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “Before the prophethood of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), I once engaged in a business transaction with him. I owed him some money, and so I promised him that I would go to fetch the money and would return with it shortly. Coincidentally, after returning home, I completely forgot about the promise I made to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) of returning shortly with the money to pay him. It was only after three days that I remembered that I had promised to return with the money. The moment I remembered my promise, I went to the place and I found that he was still waiting for me there. All he said to me was, ‘You have caused inconvenience to me. I have been waiting here for you for the last three days.’” (Sunan Abu Dawood #4996)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Saa’ib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “In the era of ignorance (pre-Islamic era), I was the business partner of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). After Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) received nubuwwah, I once came to Madinah Munawwarah and met him. Upon seeing me, he asked, ‘Do you recognize me?’ I replied, ‘Of course I recognize you! You were my business partner in the past, and what an excellent partner I had found you to be! You would never procrastinate and delay in paying people their dues, nor would you argue or quarrel with the people over any matter.’” (Majma’uz Zawaa’id #16143)
Hazrat Qays bin Saa’ib Makhzoomi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “I was, at one time, Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) business partner in the days of ignorance. I found him to be the most excellent of partners. He would neither quarrel nor dispute with anyone.” (Isaabah 5/358)
Source: The Illustrious Sahaabah
