Commerce is of two types – the commerce of the worldly life and the commerce of the next life (Hereafter). The commerce of this life is with wealth and with earnings while the commerce of the next life is with righteous actions.

Allaah says:

“O you who believe, shall I not direct you to a trade (i.e. commerce) that will save you from a painful punishment? Believe in Allaah and His Messenger and strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allaah with your wealth and your lives. That will be better for you, if you but knew! (If you do so), He will forgive you your sins and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow and pleasant dwellings in the gardens of ‘Adan (i.e. Paradise). That is indeed the great success. And He will also give you another (blessing), which you will love – help from Allaah and a near victory. So give glad tidings to the believers.” [Surah As-Saff: 10-13]

This is the immense commerce, which is profitable. So if the permissible commerce of this worldly life is attached to it, it becomes good upon good.

But if a person limits his commerce to solely that of this worldly life while abandoning the commerce of the Hereafter, he becomes a loser, as Allaah says: “…then such are the losers.” [Surah Al-Munaafiqoon: 9]

Forbidden Business Transactions by Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan. A Transcribed Lecture of Shaikh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan. Translated by abu maryam isma’eel