Business Partners Split? A Test of Syirkah Trust
Building a business with friends, relatives, or colleagues that you trust as business partners is like riding a boat together: if the oars are not in tune, the direction can be unstable. Especially if someone starts to be dishonest, the boat could sink, trust will be shattered, and the partnership will end.
In fact, in Islam, partnership or partnership is not just a business matter, but also part of worship. There is responsibility, there is manners, and most importantly: there is Allah ﷻ as a witness, even as a third party in the agreement.
Rasulullah ﷺ said:
“إِنَّ اللَّهَ ثَالِثُ الشَّرِيكَيْنِ مَا لَمْ يَخُنْ أَحَدُهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ، فَإِذَا خَانَهُ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمَا”
“Indeed Allah is a third party from two people who are in partnership as long as one of them does not betray the other. If one betrays, then Allah comes out from between them.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud)
This hadith is a serious warning for anyone who is working with a business partner. As long as both are honest and maintain their trust, Allah ﷻ is in their midst, bringing His blessings and pleasure. But as soon as one starts to cheat, Allah “leaves” from the partnership, all that remains is worldly affairs, without blessings from the sky.
Therefore, when a partnership begins to crack, it is not just about money or unfair profit sharing. But deeper than that, there is a trust that is betrayed, and there is the role of Allah ﷻ that is removed from the relationship between business partners.
This is where it is important for us to understand that partnership is not just a strategy for making money, but also a field for testing trust. Well, in this article we will dissect in more depth: why partnerships can break up, how Islamic law deals with betrayal in cooperation, and how to save relationships with business partners before it is too late.
If Trust is Cracked, Partnership Can Be Destroyed
In business cooperation, many people think that the most important thing is capital, strategy, or network. In fact, what makes partnership long-lasting is not just numbers, but trust.
Trust is the core. Once trust is shaken, trust is cracked, and that is where the partnership begins to crumble. No matter how big the capital or how sophisticated the business idea is, if one of the business partners starts to deviate, manipulate, or even betray, then that is the first sign of destruction.
Islam has reminded us from the beginning that trust is not a joke. Even the Prophet ﷺ once said:
لَا إِيمَانَ لِمَنْ لَا أَمَانَةَ لَهُ
“There is no faith for someone who cannot be trusted.” (HR. Ahmad)
So, it’s not just the business that is damaged, but also the quality of faith that is at stake. How is that possible? Because trust is not just about keeping money or agreements, but also about us feeling witnessed by Allah ﷻ in every step we take.
Also read: Muslim Business Ethics : Punctuality
Trust is a Burden, Not a Formality
Some people consider the contract or division of roles in a partnership to be just a formality. In fact, it is a burden that will be accounted for before Allah ﷻ.
Allah says:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا۟ ٱلْأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا ۖ
“Indeed Allah commands you to convey the trusts to those who are entitled to receive them…” (QS. An-Nisā’: 58)
This means that when someone accepts responsibility as a business manager, as a financial recorder, or cash holder, it means that he is not only working for a business partner, but is also carrying out a trust that Allah has ordered to be fulfilled.
When the Trust is Betrayed, Allah Leaves
Back to this important hadith:
“Indeed, Allah is the third party of two partners (syariqain) as long as one of them does not betray the other. If one betrays, then Allah leaves between them.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud)
The last sentence is very piercing:
“فَإِذَا خَانَهُ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمَا”
“…If one betrays, then Allah leaves between them.”
Losing a partner may be able to find a replacement. But if Allah ﷻ has “left” the partnership, it is only a matter of time until everything collapses. Because blessings are the soul of sharia business. And blessings only come when the trust is maintained.
Also read: Responsibility as Professional Ethic for Muslims
Untrustworthy Business Partners? This is the Islamic Law
In the business world, breach of trust is often considered commonplace, as long as the profits continue to flow, ethical matters can be “discussed later.” But in Islam, breach of trust is a big deal. It’s not just about ethics, but it can be a major sin.
Why? Because trust is part of faith. And betrayal of a business partner in a partnership is not just a matter of breaking a contract, but also breaking a promise to Allah ﷻ.
1. Not Trustworthy = Hypocritical Traits
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ firmly mentioned the signs of a hypocrite, and violators of trustworthiness include:
“آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلَاثٌ: إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَانَ”
“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks he lying, if he makes a promise he breaks it, and if he is given a trust he betrays it.” (HR. Bukhari and Muslim)
Imagine. A business partner you trust, who initially worked together in the spirit of partnership, could fall into the category of hypocrisy if he starts cheating and betraying the agreement.
2. Traitors of Trust Are Threatened with Hell
Islam is not playing around when it comes to trust. In a very harsh hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“لَا إِيمَانَ لِمَنْ لَا أَمَانَةَ لَهُ، وَلَا دِينَ لِمَنْ لَا عَهْدَ لَهُ”
“There is no faith for one who cannot be trusted, and there is no religion for one who does not keep his promise.” (Narrated by Ahmad, no. 12575)
If not being trustworthy is considered a loss of faith, then the consequence is the punishment of the hereafter. Not only will he be prosecuted in the court of the world, but he will also be tried before the Lord of the universe.
And in the Qur’an, Allah ﷻ gives a stern warning:
“إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلخَائِنِينَ”
“Indeed, Allah does not like those who betray.” (QS. Al-Anfal: 58)
If Allah does not like it, then what can be expected from a partnership that is marked by betrayal?
3. Double Sin: Betraying Man and Allah
When a business partner cheats, he is not only oppressing his business partner. But he is also betraying the agreement that was made in the name of Allah.
Partnership is not just black and white. It is a contract witnessed by Allah ﷻ, and every contract in Islam is a promise that must be kept:
“وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِٱلْعَهْدِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْـُٔولًا”
“And fulfill your promises, for surely every promise will be questioned.” (QS. Al-Isra’: 34)
So, whoever plays around with trust, he is preparing himself to be judged by Allah ﷻ in the hereafter.
In short…
If you are involved in a company, remember well: trust is its axis. Without trust, partnership is just a field of sin, not a field of blessing.
And if you are being tested with a business partner who is not trustworthy, it does not mean you are weak. In fact, this is the moment to remain steadfast in maintaining the values of sharia, while fighting for your rights in a halal and honorable way.
Also read: Honesty as Muslims Professional Ethic
Khatimah
Syirkah in Islam is not just a form of business cooperation, but it is a bond of trust that has the value of worship. In it there is a great mandate that is not only carried out to humans, but also to Allah ﷻ as a witness to the agreement. When the mandate is maintained, the syirkah will grow in blessings. However, when the mandate is violated, even by one party, destruction can occur both morally, faith, and financially.
Islam gives a strong warning against violations of the mandate. Not only as a sin, but also as an indication of hypocrisy that can destroy a person’s faith. Therefore, anyone who becomes a business partner in a syirkah must grow the awareness that he is carrying out a mandate that will be held accountable before Allah ﷻ.
So, if there is a problem in the syirkah, the solution is not to bring each other down, but to return to the principles of justice, transparency, and piety. Because what is more important than maintaining a business is maintaining the blessings of life and the safety of reckoning in the afterlife.
Also read: Said bin Amir al-Jumahi: The Humble Governor
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References
Al-Qur’an Al-Karim https://tafsirweb.com
Al-Bukhari, Muhammad bin Isma’il. Sahih al-Bukhari. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/bukhari
Muslim, Abu al-Husain. Sahih Muslim. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/muslim.
Abu Dawud, Sulaiman bin al-Asy’ats. Sunan Abi Dawud. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 1992.
Ahmad bin Hanbal. Musnad Ahmad. Beirut: Mu’assasah ar-Risalah, 2001.
Al-Mubarakfuri, Abdurrahman. Tuhfah al-Ahwadzi Syarh Sunan at-Tirmidzi. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 1995.
