Avoid Doubtful Investments, Align Wealth with Faith
Have you ever thought, what if money could talk?
Imagine, on the Day of Judgment, every treasure that has ever come into our hands will testify before Allah ﷻ . It will say, “I came from this path… and then used it for that…” Everything will be clear. Nothing can be hidden.
Money is more than just a medium of exchange. It reflects the path we choose in life. It holds the direction of our intentions. And one day, it could be a witness for us, or… a witness against us.
In Islam, wealth is not our absolute property. It is a trust from Allah ﷻ . And every trust will be held accountable. As stated in His Word:
وَآتُوهُمْ مِّنْ مَالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُم ْ
“Give them some of Allah’s treasures that He has given you.”
(QS. An-Nur : 33)
Allah ﷻ calls that wealth mālullāh — property that belongs to Allah. We are just entrusted. And as a deposit, of course there are manners in treating it.
Therefore, we cannot be careless in financial matters, including when deciding to invest. Because in Islam, halal investment is not just a profit-making strategy, but a concrete form of obedience.
Investment: Not Just Profit, But Worship
Many people today want their wealth to grow. They want passive income, they want to “make their own money.” That’s natural and legitimate. But in Islam, when we talk about investment, we’re also talking about value. Whether it’s halal or haram. Whether it’s blessed or not.
Unfortunately, not everything that appears Islamic is truly Sharia-compliant. Many carry the “Sharia” label, but they still contain usury, gharar (unclear law), or even fraudulent practices disguised as “scams.”
In fact, investment can be a field of reward… or even a burden of reckoning.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
الْحَلَالُ بَيِّنٌ وَالْحَرَامُ بَيِّنٌ وَبَيْنَ ذَلِكَ أُمُورٌ مُشْتَبِهَاتٌ لَا يَدْرِي كَثِيرٌ مِنْ النَّاسِ أَمِنْ الْحَلَالِ هِيَ أَمْ مِنْ الْحَرَامِ
” The halal is clear, the haram is also clear and in between there are doubtful matters (ambiguous) which most people do not understand whether it is from the halal or the haram.” (Narrated by Jami’ At-Tirmidhi No. 1126 )
Staying away from doubtful matters is a form of piety. Because unclear matters often lead to what is forbidden. And if we’re not careful, good intentions can turn into disaster in the afterlife.
Halal investment isn’t just about systems and products, but also about financial ethics, prudence, and responsibility before Allah ﷻ .
Also read: Distributive Justice in Economic Growth
Get to Know Syubhat: Between the Glitter of the World and the Slippery Road
One of the biggest challenges in today’s financial world is the “deceptive glitter.” Many investment offers seem convincing: big, fast profits, multiple bonuses… and sometimes branded with the “sharia” label.
However, the shine is not necessarily light.
Doubt is like a thin mist on a dark road. If we’re not sensitive and don’t understand the signs of sharia, we could slip… before we even realize we’re on the wrong path.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
فَمَنِ اتَّقَى الشُّبُهَاتِ، فَقَدِ اسْتَبْرَأَ لِدِينِهِ وَعِرْضِه ِ
“Whoever protects himself from matters of doubt, then indeed he has saved his religion and honor.” (HR. Jami’ At-Tirmidhi No. 1126)
This means that avoiding doubtful matters is a preventative measure. Even if you’re not yet certain whether something is haram, if your heart already has doubts, avoiding it is actually safer.
But in reality, many ignore these concerns. For the sake of profit, sharia law is sometimes relaxed. “As long as it’s profitable, halal comes later.”
Syubhat can appear in many forms:
- Fixed returns but unclear source,
- A deposit system but the contract is unclear,
- Bonus from recruiting other people (similar to money games),
- Or investments that are in the name of syirkah, but in practice are similar to interest-bearing debt.
We need knowledge and courage to say “no” when someone doubts us.
Also read: The Beauty of Patience in Halal Investment
Protecting Wealth, Protecting Self: Principles of Halal Investment
If we truly want to safeguard our wealth and ensure it remains lawful and blessed, we must understand the principles of halal investment. We can’t just follow the crowd, especially not just follow what friends tell us.
Here are some important principles:
- Transparency of contracts and risks
There must be no deception, manipulation, or ambiguity. There must be mutual consent. - Free from usury and interest-bearing debt
Allah ﷻ says :
فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِه ِ “So declare war from Allah and His Messenger…”
(QS. Al-Baqarah : 279) - Do not oppress and do not be oppressed
Must be fair. All parties know their rights and obligations. - Enter the halal and productive sector
Don’t let our wealth fund things that Allah ﷻ has forbidden.
With this principle, God willing, we can be more at peace. Not only will we be secure in this world, but we will also be at ease in the afterlife.
Also read: Financial Goals for Giving, Not Hoarding
Khatimah: Wealth Can Be a Path to Heaven or Hell
Money isn’t everything. But it can be a very difficult test. It can be a lifeline, or a burden during the reckoning.
So don’t manage it carelessly. Don’t just invest.
Halal investment is a form of worship. It’s a sign of gratitude for the blessings from Allah ﷻ . And it’s proof that we understand that everything will return… and we will be held accountable.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْؤولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِه ِ
“Each of you is a leader, and each of you will be asked about your leadership.” (HR. Al-Bukhari No. 2232)
So when you hold money today, try asking yourself: “Will this be a witness for me… or against me later?”
May Allah ﷻ protect our hearts, treasures and steps.
Also read: Crab Mentality: The Silent Killer in Business Cooperation
Let’s Visit, Zeed and join for halal investment with Zeed.
Reference:
Al-Qur’an al-Karim.
Al-Bukhārī, Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl. Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Hadith no. 2232. Accessed from: https://www.hadits.id/hadits/bukhari/2232
At-Tirmiżī, Muḥammad ibn ʿĪsā. Sunan at-Tirmiżī , Hadith no. 1126. Retrieved from: https://www.hadits.id/hadits/tirmidzi/1126
Tafsir Ibnu Katsir, Tafsir QS. An-Nur: 33 and QS. Al-Baqarah: 279. Retrieved from: https://tafsirweb.com/
