Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf (may Allah be pleased with him), a revered merchant, was among the beloved companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who attained greatness through his proximity, companionship, and guidance. These teachings transformed their lives and set them on a path to success.

Three Principles of Trading

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) instilled three fundamental principles in his companions when conducting business affairs. These principles were strictly followed by the companions:

1. They were prohibited from cheating in any form, and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had warned that those who deceive and cheat would be cast out from his community.
2. They were not to hoard items to pursue more significant profit since hoarding was a cursed act.
3. They were encouraged to make only the least amount of profit.

As a result of adhering to these principles, the companions' shops were always bustling with customers, and their reputation for honesty and integrity in business dealings was unparalleled.

Once, Hazrat Abdul Rahman bin Auf (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about the secret to his success and happiness. He responded that he always accepted a small benefit in hopes of obtaining a greater one. 

Despite being a professional merchant, he never refused a buyer, even for selling a single animal.

Hazrat Abdul Rahman bin Auf (may Allah be pleased with him) shared an incident that exemplified his high character. He once sold one thousand camels without charging a single penny more than the original price, but he obtained one thousand ropes for tying the camels' feet, which he sold at one dirham per rope, which enabled him to make a decent profit of 1,000 dirhams. Had he held back the sale to get a more significant profit, he would have had to spend extra money on fodder for the camels. But, by selling the ropes, he could save on expenses and make a profit.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), during his time as Caliph, used to roam around the market of Kufa and tell the merchants, "O merchants! "Do not reject a small profit, or else you will be deprived of a larger profit."

Once, Muslim traders were known for their trustworthiness, purity, and honesty. But this is not the case today. 

If only we could adopt the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and strive to emulate the excellent examples set by our Prophet and his companions, we could hope to regain our reputation as trustworthy and honest traders.