Financial prohibitions in Islam

Stocks, money, bonds, T-bills, market accounts, certificates of deposits, variable-interest checking and saving accounts, and many other financial dealings that have become a fact in our life. But what we're concerned with here is how can we stick to the Islamic teachings regarding various financial issues?! And what are the financial prohibitions in Islam?

1- Gambling:

Allah says in the Qur'an: "Intoxicants and gambling, sacrificing to stones and divination by arrows, are an abomination, of Satan's handiwork, so avoid such abomination, in order that you may be successful."Qur'an (5:90)

Today gambling has taken many forms, such as the lottery which itself is of different types, the most known is to buy numbers, and different prizes are given to the winning numbers. This is definitely forbidden even if some say it is for charitable causes. Any type of gambling game is included in this category. Nowadays there exist clubs just for gambling, where 'green tables' are reserved for this abominable sin, there is also betting for football games, and other sports games, these are also considered unlawful gambling.

2- Stealing:

Allah says in the Qur'an: "Cut off the hand of the thief, male or female, as a recompense for that which they committed, a punishment by way of example from Allah. And Allah is Ail-Powerful, All-Wise."Qur'an (5:38).

Among the biggest crimes of stealing is stealing from the persons who come to the House of Allah for Hajj or Umrah. These types of thieves do not give any respect to Allah's punishment, while they are in the most sacred place on earth, around His House. Another horrible crime is stealing from the funds of the Muslim community. Some people who do it say, 'We do what many other people are doing.’

They do not realize that they are stealing from all the Muslims, because the public funds are the property of all the Muslims, and the fact that other people do it is not an excuse to follow them. Some people steal from people they consider non Muslims, arguing that they are disbelievers. Of course this is not permissible.

Another type of stealing is to steal from other people's pockets. Some people steal from their hosts' houses, others steal from their guests' purses, others shoplift. Some people think it is permissible to steal things as long as they are of small or insignificant value. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said: "Allah cursed the thief, he steals the egg and then his hand is cut off, and he steals the rope and then his hand is cut off." (Bukhari).

Any person who steals anything should return it back to its owner and return to Allah and ask for His Forgiveness, whether he returns it openly or in secret, by himself or through an intermediary. If he is unable to return the property to its owner or to his inheritors after him, then he may give it to any charity organisation and intend the reward for its owner.

3- Accepting and Giving Bribes:

This another source of unlawful money, which Allah has forbidden. Giving a bribe to a judge or a ruler in order to incur injustice is a crime, for it leads to unfairness in ruling by taking away people's rights, and it leads to the spread of corruption.

Allah says:"And eat up not one another's property unjustly, nor give bribery to the rulers that you may knowingly eat up a part of the property of others sinfully."Qur'an (2:18)Abu Hurairah narrated that Prophet Mohammad (SAW) said:"Allah curses the bribe giver and the bribe taker in ruling cases." However, bribes given by a person to take back what rightfully belongs to him, or to ward off an injustice, and which could not be accomplished otherwise, are not included in this type of cursed bribes. On the contrary it is considered means of regaining one's rights.

Bribes nowadays are looked at as a more profitable source of income than some employees' salaries, to the extent that it has become a clause in many companies' budgets under different cover names. It has also corrupted many employees at the expense of their employers, so that the good service (or merchandise) is presented only to the one who gives bribe. As for the others, they are neglected or their service is postponed. Prophet Mohammad (SAW) has cursed those who participate in this crime, saying: "Allah's curse be upon the bribe giver and the bribe taker." (Narrated by Ibn Majah). Once the fear of Allah is absent, then power and cunning is abused in wrongdoings, such as to lay claim to people's properties, and to confiscate their land.

The punishment for this deed is severe, for Prophet Mohammad (SAW) said: "Whoever wrongfully takes away a land, will sink into the seventh earth on the Day of Judgment."(Bukhari). Also Prophet Mohammad (SAW) said: "Whoever wrongfully takes even a span of the hand from a land, Allah will order him to dig it down to the seventh earth, then He will fence it on the Day of Judgment until He judges between people."

4- Denying the Employees Their Money:

Prophet Mohammad (SAW) has stressed the importance of paying the worker as soon as he finishes his task, saying: "Give the worker his pay before his sweat dries up."

It is prohibited to delay paying the workers and the employees. And this takes various forms:Denying the employee his entire salary when the employee has no proof of his work: Even if the employee's right is lost in this life, it will not be lost on the Day of Judgment.

Another form is giving the employee only part of his salary, without having any lawful reason.Allah says: "Woe to al-Mutaffifeen (those who decrease the rights of others)." Qur'an (83:1). Another example is assigning the employee additional tasks or making him work overtime, without giving him any compensation.