The Role of Islam in Protection of Consumers

Quran is the divine revelation by Allah almighty through angel Gabriel to Muhammad (SAW). Although revealed about fourteen and half centuries ago, It is regarded as the most effective and efficient doctrine of consumer protection. Islam arrived in Sub Continent in 7^th century AD and played the most important part in the consumerism of subcontinent.

The effect of Islam and Quran on sub-continent is important because the story of how Islam came to that region tells us a lot about the religion as well. It is told that in 624 AD, one of the disciples of Muhammad (SAW), Malik Bin Deenar, came to Kerala (India) and started trading with locals in a way that was new and welcoming to them, the way trading with honesty, ethics and general concern for consumer. The locals, inspired by Malik Bin Deenar, informed the local king Cheraman Perumal. King summoned Malik Bin Deenar to understand why his practices of trade were different from local traders. In response, Malik Bin Deenar said that he was a follower of Islam and all his honesty and ethics in trade was due to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

 According to historians, king Perumal was so impressed by the principles of Islam that he became the first person in subcontinent to convert as a muslim and left for Hajj in Makkah. This story demonstrates the emphasis Islam has placed on honesty and ethics in trade and protection of consumers.

For a Businessman, Islam has emphasized that there is no other way than to satisfy a consumer. He has to satisfy the consumer even if the market forces to drive down the profits. Profit are just the means to keep the business alive, in the end the consumer should always be satisfied. Quran is also very particular about contracts. It is said in Quran,

                "The almighty says... O you who believe! Fulfill your contracts".(5:1)

The standardization of measurements and weights is also addressed in Quran as follows,

                "Give full measure when ye measure, and weigh with a balance that is straight; that is the most fitting and the most advantageous in the final determination."(17:35)

These days, when it is common practice to artificially manipulate prices, it should be noted that Quran does not allow the storage of food and grains over 40 days for the purpose of increasing prices. It is astonishing that Quran and Islam addressed the consumer rights about fourteen and half centuries ago and introduced the concepts of standardization and calibration of measures. Contract law was also emphasized in Quran for protection of consumers and accountability of macroeconomic system of a country.

Elijah

Elijah (Ilyas (AS) or Elias) is a prophet of Islam in Israel during 870-850 BC. Quran describes Elijah as a righteous and great prophet of Islam who preached the word of Allah Almighty. He also regarded as a prophet in Christianity and Judaism. Many Muslim scholars believe that Elijah came from the family of Prophet Aaron (Harun (AS)). It is believed that Elijah was awarded prophet hood after the death of great Prophet and King Solomon (Sulayman (AS)), for the people of Israel.

Muslims believe that Elijah was one of the prophets sent for the guidance of people of Israel by Allah Almighty. In Quran, it is specially mentioned about Elijah and his preaching in opposition of false Syrian god Ba’al, pleading with people to the True God. Most scholars believe that Elijah preached to the people of Israel, ruled by Ahab and later his son Ahaziah. He is believed to have been a prophet of the desert like John (Yahya (AS)). Elijah preached with great zeal to Ahab and his wife jezebel, who were responsible for the worship of false idols in the area of Israel. In spite of all this, majority of people refused to listen to Elijah.

Elijah is mentioned in Quran for his powerful preaching. As Allah Almighty says in Quran,

                “So also was Elias (Elijah) among those sent (by Us). Behold, he said to his people, ‘Will ye not fear (God)? Will ye call upon Baal and forsake the Best of Creators,- God, your Lord and Cherisher and the Lord and Cherisher of your fathers of old?’” (37:123-126)

The Qur'an makes it clear that the majority of Elijah's people denied the prophet and continued to follow idolatry. However, it mentions that a small number of devoted servants of Allah Almighty among them followed Elijah and believed and worshiped Allah Almighty. As Quran Says,

                “But they rejected him, and they will certainly be called up (for punishment),- Except the sincere and devoted Servants of God (among them).” (37:127-128)

Alcohol

Islam is very clear about intoxications. Intoxications are not allowed for some specific spiritual reasons. In life, alcohol is the reason of many sinful and negative behaviors. Consuming alcohol is one of the worst sins Muslim can commit. Intoxications were forbidden in Quran through several verses. At first, it was forbidden for Muslims to attend prayers when intoxicated. As in Quran Allah Almighty says,

                “O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say,” (4:43)

Then it was revealed that alcohol contains some good and some evil but evil is greater than good. It is said in Quran,

                “They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." They ask thee how much they are to spend; Say: "What is beyond your needs." Thus doth God Make clear to you His Signs: In order that ye may consider-” (2:219)

And finally the verses of Quran forbidding intoxication,

                “O ye who believe! make not unlawful the good things which God hath made lawful for you, but commit no excess: for God loveth not those given to excess. Eat of the things which God hath provided for you, lawful and good; but fear God, in Whom ye believe.” (5:90-91)

Quran uses strongest terms and warnings in reference to consuming alcohol. According to Quran alcohol covers reality and cover God from those who consume it. The use of alcohol is considered to be a grave sin. Not only consuming alcohol is a great sin but trading alcohol is also forbidden.

The purpose of forbidding alcohol in Quran is to emphasize to Muslims that purity of mind and body is essential for spiritual progress and closeness to Allah Almighty.

Talking Ants

There are a lot of secrets about this universe revealed in Quran along with prayers, prohibitions and commands. These secrets can only be seen by a person with attentive eye and believe in truthfulness of Quran. These secrets not only lead way to our life but to science too. The reason for this is that any information not based on revelations of Allah Almighty is always in contradiction of universe and is illusion.

For years scientists were trying to watch and record sounds and vibrations of insects. The matter was resolved when Professor Robert Hickling, president of Sonometrics Inc, successfully recorded sounds coming out of Ants. Scientists were surprised by the fact that sound frequencies released by ants varied from ant to ant. This was a remarkable and interesting discovery, keeping in mind the fact that there are over 12,000 species of ants and the number of ants is multiple folds more than humans.

This discovery again proved that each and every piece of information in Quran is divine revelation and authentic. 27^th chapter of Quran is named Surah Al-Naml (The Ant), in which Allah Almighty mentions ants,

                “At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants, one of the ants said: ‘O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it.’ So he (Solomon) smiled, amused at her speech; and he said: ‘O my Lord! so order me that I may be grateful for Thy favours, which thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee: And admit me, by Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy righteous Servants.’” (27:18-19)

In these verses Allah Almighty clearly tells us about the speech of ants. Researchers also discovered that ants communicate through the antennas on their heads. They use their antennas to send and receive sound vibrations. The interesting discovery was also that while receiving vibrations, the antennas filters vibrations and removes overlapping sounds. This is a very developed communication system unknown to science until few years ago but Quran mentioned it over 1400 years before scientific discovery and told us that ants speak.

Munkar and Nakeer

Munkar and Nakeer are the angels who test the faith of dead in their graves, according to teachings of Islam. The literal meaning of Munkar and Nakeer is of ‘the Denied and the Denier’ in Arabic.

According to Quran and Islam, one’s soul passes through a stage called Barzakh after death. The soul exists in grave during stage of barzakh. The soul will remain in grave even if the body is destroyed completely. The questioning of soul starts immediately after funeral is over and all people leave the grave.  Munkar and Nakeer come to the grave and prop the departed soul upright in the grave. They will ask three questions from the soul, “Who is your Lord? Who is your Prophet and What is your religion?”. If the person is righteous, the soul will answer the questions correctly that “Allah is my lord, Muhammad (SAW) is my Prophet and Islam is my religion.” Those who answer the questions correctly will spend their stage of Barzakh pleasantly but if the questions are answered incorrectly the time in grave will be harsh.

According to teachings of Islam and Quran, the angels are described as having solid black eyes, carrying hammers, tongue slashing fire flames as they speak and their shoulder span measured in miles. Those who answer the questions incorrectly are beaten and tortured everyday until Allah Almighty order for punishment to stop.

Death

Death is the most important aspect of life as it is certain to happen to all of us. We never know when it is going to happen to us, in the next minute or in years. We plan many things in our life which may never happen, death on the other hand is certain to happen to all of us. This truth enables us plan and live our lives for that moment. Death is also part of final trial of humans. Allah Almighty says in Quran that life and death are created to try humans,

                “He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving;-”(67:2)

Death is the end of this life and the beginning of the next. Which means death is the end of trial of a man. Therefore believers are not afraid of death because they spend their lives according to the teachings of Quran and Sunnah. They spend each and every moment of their lives in pursuit of good deeds as preparation of Hereafter. Non-believers, on the other hand, are afraid of death as they consider it complete end. So they try to avoid thoughts of death and try to escape from it. But it is impossible to escape from death. Allah says in Quran,

                “Wherever ye are, death will find you out, even if ye are in towers built up strong and high!”  (4-78)

Thinking about death strengthens our will and spirit. It protects us from false temptations of this world. It prevents us from all the actions which are unpleasant to Allah Almighty. This is the reason that Muslims think about death never forget that they will die some day.

Pillars of Islam

The five pillars of Islam are the five basic acts of Islam. They are considered obligatory for all muslims. The Quran present them as a sign of commitment to the faith. They are Shahadah, Salat, Sawm, Zakat and Hajj.

Shahadah

Shahadah is saying and accepting the oneness of Allah Almighty and prophet of Muhammad (SAW). Shahdah is a statement recited in Arabic as, ‘La Ilaha Illallah Muhammad Rasulullah’ which means “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger” in English. Also one should should try to say the declaration of Faith when dying. It is obligatory to say this when converting to Islam.

Salat

Salat is Islamic prayer. It consists of five daily prayers: fajr, Dhuhr, Asar, Maghrib and Isha. The timings of prayers are fixed according to the position of sun. Each prayer consists of certain amount of sequence of actions and words called Rakat.

Sawm

Sawm is Arabic word for fasting. By Islamic law Sawm means to abstain from eating, drinking, sex and anything prohibited by Islamic Law. Sawm during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam along with Tauhid, Salat, Zakat and Hajj. Sawm is obligatory in Ramadan but it can be observed other time of year also. As Allah Almighty says in Quran,

                “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,” (2:183)

Zakat

Zakat is the most important worship performed financially. Muslims who fulfill the duty the duty of giving Zakat are promised endless rewards in this world and hereafter. In the same way those who refuse to follow instructions about Zakat, are warned about strict punishments by Quran and Muhammad (SAW). The ratio of Zakat is 2.5% of total wealth and is obligatory on every wealthy and rich Muslim.

Hajj

Hajj is an act of worship just like Salat (Prayer), Sawm (Fasting) and Zakat. Muslims from all over the world gather in Makkah to perform hajj. Hajj is performed in the Islamic month of Dul-Hajj. It is obligatory on every sane and able adult Muslim.