The hadeeth “Every merchant will enter Hell except those who are pious.”

 

Is this hadeeth saheeh: “Every merchant will enter Hell except those who are pious”?.

Praise be to Allaah.

We could not find this hadeeth in this wording in any of the
books of Sunnah, but there are similar reports in the saheeh Sunnah,
including the following: 

It was narrated from Rifaa’ah ibn Raafi’ (may Allaah be
pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “The merchants will be raised on the Day of
Resurrection as evildoers, apart from those who fear Allaah and are
honest.” 

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1210), al-Daarimi (2/247), Ibn
Maajah (2146) and Ibn Hibbaan (11/276). 

Al-Tirmidhi said: It is hasan saheeh. Al-Haakim said: Its
isnaad is saheeh, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him.  

It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah
al-Saheehah (994).  

Al-Mubaarakfoori said in Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi (4/336): 

“apart from those who fear Allaah” by not committing any
major or minor sin, such as deceiving and cheating, i.e., they treat the
people well in their business dealings or they obey and worship Allaah. “And
are honest” means they are truthful in their oaths and in everything they
say. 

Al-Qaadi said: Because it was the habit of merchants to be
deceitful in their dealings and ruthless in selling their products in
whatever ways they could, such as swearing false oaths and the like, they
were judged to be evildoers, but an exception is made for those of them who
avoid haraam practices, are honest in their oaths and truthful in their
speech. 

This was also the view of commentators, who interpreted
evildoing (fujoor) as referring to idle talk and false oaths, as it says in
al-Marqaah. End quote. 

There is also an indication in the saheeh Sunnah of the
reason why merchants were described as evildoers, which is because of their
wrong deeds such as false oaths and broken promises.

It was narrated from ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Shibl (may Allaah be
pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said:  

“Merchants are the evildoers.” It was said: O Messenger of
Allaah, has Allaah not permitted buying and selling? He said: “Yes, but they
speak and tell lies, and they swear oaths and sin (as a result).” 

Narrated by Ahmad (3/428); al-Haakim (2/8) – he said its
isnaad is saheeh; it was classed as saheeh by the commentators on al-Musnad
and by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (366). 

But trade is one of the best ways of earning a living for
those who are honest and sincere, for the honest, trustworthy merchant will
have a great reward. 

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be
pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: 

“The honest, trustworthy merchant will be with the Prophets,
siddeeqs and martyrs.” 

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1209) who said: This is a hasan
hadeeth but we know it only through this isnaad. Ibn Taymiyah said its
isnaad is jayyid, as noted in al-Mustadrak ‘ala Majmoo’ al-Fataawa
(1/163). 

Abu Haamid al-Ghazaali (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
Ihya’ ‘Uloom al-Deen (2/79): 

These reports may be reconciled in several ways. We say: 

We do not say that trade is better in all cases, rather trade
may be used to seek sufficient provision or more than what is sufficient. 

If it is used to seek more than what is sufficient and to
increase and accumulate wealth that is not spent on good works and charity,
then it is blameworthy, because it is focusing on love of this world which
is the root of all evil. If the person also mistreats others and deceives
them, then it is wrongdoing and evil. 

But if it is used to seek sufficient provision for oneself
and one’s children, then engaging in trade as a means of keeping oneself
from asking others for help is better. End quote. 

See also question no. 21575.