Islamic Economics Islamic Finance Muamalah Fiqh Muslim Lifestyle

Character of a Successful Muslim Entrepreneur

Laras Wati21 May 2024

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The character of a good Muslim Entrepreneurs is one that can support the sustainability of the business as our role model Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who has good characters and role models in trading or entrepreneurship such as Shidiq, Amanah, Tabligh, and Fathonah.

In a business or entrepreneurship, be it trade, investment, or other types of entrepreneurship, as a Muslim, of course we need to have good character to build trust in a business or entrepreneurship. By emulating the character of Rasulullah ﷺ in business or entrepreneurship, we as Muslims can build a successful and blessed business. We can be an example for other business people and contribute positively to the economic progress of Muslims. The character in question is as written in surah Al-Qalam: 4

وَاِنَّكَ لَعَلٰى خُلُقٍ عَظِيۡمٍ‏ ٤

“And you are truly of good character.”

In entrepreneurship, it is important to have good character to build trust in a business or entrepreneurship.

The Character of a Muslim Entrepreneur

A. Shidiq

The word ص د ق has the meaning of true / honest. Honesty in terms can be interpreted as words and actions in balance or the same, carrying out what is said and correct in action.

حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ وَعُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَإِسْحَقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ إِسْحَقُ أَخْبَرَنَا و قَالَ الْآخَرَانِ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَصْدُقُ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ صِدِّيقًا وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَكْذِبُ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ كَذَّابًا

Zuhair ibn Harb, ‘Uthman ibn Abu Shibah, and Ishaq ibn Ibrahim narrated to us. Ishaq said: It has been reported to us, while others said: It has been reported to us by Jarir from Manshur from Abu Wail from ‘Abdullah who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Verily, honesty will lead to goodness. And goodness will lead to Paradise. A person who is always truthful will be recorded as a truthful person. But lying leads to evil. And indeed evil will lead to hell. He who maintains falsehood will be recorded as a liar.” (H.R Muslim: 4719)

Based on the hadith, it states that honesty is important in order to create goodness, and with honesty, one’s personal integrity can also be seen. And lies and lies bring badness and are included as hypocrites. in the context of entrepreneurship, a Muslim entrepreneur must have honesty in various matters, be it product information or scales.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ قَالَا حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مَالِكًا أَبَا صَفْوَانَ بْنَ عُمَيْرَةَ قَالَ بِعْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رِجْلَ سَرَاوِيلَ قَبْلَ الْهِجْرَةِ فَوَزَنَ لِي فَأَرْجَحَ لِي

Muhammad ibn Basysyar and Muhammad ibn Al Walid both said; Muhammad ibn Ja’far said, Shu’bah said from Simak ibn Harb who said, “I heard Malik Abu Shafwan ibn Umairah say, ‘I bought a pair of pants from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) before the hijrah, so he weighed them for me and determined their weight.’” (H.R Ibnu Majah 2212).

B. Amanah

Amanah can be interpreted as keeping and carrying out, with full awareness, everything that has been delegated. Amanah also means trustworthy; this is reflected in the character of Rasulullah ﷺ, who was nicknamed Al-Amin In the context of trustworthy Muslim entrepreneurs, they will always keep their agreements. A Muslim entrepreneur needs to have a trustworthy character.

يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَخُوۡنُوا اللّٰهَ وَالرَّسُوۡلَ وَتَخُوۡنُوۡۤا اَمٰنٰتِكُمۡ وَاَنۡـتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ‏ ٢٧

“O you who believe! Do not betray Allah and the Messenger and (also) do not betray the trust entrusted to you, while you know.” (Q.S Al-Anfal: 27)

C. Tabligh

Tabligh means delivery or conveyance. As a good Muslim entrepreneur, we are obliged to convey information clearly and correctly about the products we sell, or the concept of investment cooperation, as well as the flow of activities and transactions to be carried out by showing every advantage and disadvantage to our cooperation partners or customers. This tabligh character is clearly important for every Muslim entrepreneur to have.

۞ يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الرَّسُوۡلُ بَلِّغۡ مَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَيۡكَ مِنۡ رَّبِّكَ ؕ وَاِنۡ لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلۡ فَمَا بَلَّغۡتَ رِسٰلَـتَهٗ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَهۡدِى الۡقَوۡمَ الۡـكٰفِرِيۡنَ‏ ٦٧

O Messenger! Convey what your Lord has sent down to you. If you do not do (what you are commanded to do) then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah preserve you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelievers. (Q.S Al-Maidah:67)

D. Fathonah (Cerdas)

Fatonah means intelligence in this case, as the example of Rasulullah ﷺ that intelligence in this case is intelligence in reason, a healthy and sane mind, and a sincere heart. We can know that the intelligence of the apostle of Allah in choosing da’wah methods to spread Islam can be our example in entrepreneurship, Intelligence is needed in determining methods related to knowledge of products, entrepreneurial partners, supply of goods, as well as demand and supply of business opportunities. Fathonah, in thiscase, can also place the characters shidiq, amanah and tabligh in proportion.

يُؤۡتِى الۡحِكۡمَةَ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ ۚ وَمَنۡ يُّؤۡتَ الۡحِكۡمَةَ فَقَدۡ اُوۡتِىَ خَيۡرًا كَثِيۡرًا ؕ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ اِلَّاۤ اُولُوا الۡاَلۡبَابِ‏ ٢٦٩

“He gives wisdom to whom He wills. Whoever is given wisdom has indeed been given much good. And none can take lessons except those who have a sound mind” (Q.S Al Baqarah: 269).

Conclusion

As a good muslim and to start a business or entrepreneurship, the important thing we do is build a personal character as a Muslim entrepreneur with Shidiq, that is, honesty in transactions, trustworthiness in fulfilling every agreement or akad, tabligh with the delivery of every transaction contract and product clearly and openly, and fatonah intelligence in making methods of planning in entrepreneurship. Hopefully, by emulating the character of the Prophet ﷺ in entrepreneurship, we can build a successful and blessed business.