Sayyiduna Miswar Bin Makhramah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا

Trader Companions

Sayyiduna Miswar Bin Makhramah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما

 (Part 10)

Maulana Bilal Husayn Attari Madani

Introduction

Sayyiduna Miswar Bin Makhramah Al-Qarashi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما is one of several noble companions who were businessmen. Born in 2^nd AH in Mecca, he was the nephew of Sayyiduna Abdur-Rahman Bin ‘Awf رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. In 8^th AH, the same year as the Conquest of Makkah, he joined the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in Madinah. As a young companions, he was privileged in his childhood to accompany the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, basking in the prophetic lights. Although he was only eight years of age when Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم departed from this world, he grew up to be a loyal supporter of Islam, participating in various battles and remaining an eminent citizen of Madinah until the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Usman رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, after which he moved to Makkah. Passing away in 64 AH, his funeral prayer was led by Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Zubayr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما, before being laid to rest in the famous cemetery of Makkah Jannat-ul-Ma’la. (Al-Istee’ab, vol. 3, pp. 455-456; Al-A’laam-lil-Zarqaali, vol. 7, p. 225)

Consultation in business

During the battle of Al-Qaadisiyah, he came across a gold vessel, encrusted with yellow topaz and peridot. He was unsure of its value but when a Persian man offered to buy it from him for the handsome sum of 10,000 silver pieces, he realised that it must be a valuable item. Recognising this, he refused the sale and instead took the vessel to Sayyiduna Sa’d Bin Abi Waqqas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ for consultation. After hearing the entire incident, Sayyiduna Sa’d رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ advised him against selling it for 10,000 dirhams. Sayyiduna Sa’d رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ then sold it on his behalf for 100,000 silver pieces and handed the money over to him. (Tareekh Ibn-e-‘Asakir, vol. 58, p. 170)

Piety in crisis

As a businessman, he had invested in purchasing large amounts of foodstuffs. However, when the region suffered a food shortage, instead of profiteering from the crisis by raising prices, he publicly announced that he will sell food items for exactly the same price that he purchased them. (Al-Zuhd li Ahmad, p. 220)

Prioritising Islam

Once, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ took his stock to the market of ‘Ukaz where he saw a person leading Salah. Proceeding to stop the person, he replaced him someone else who would lead the Salah. The man who was initially leading the Salah was infuriated and filed a complaint with the Leader of the Faithful, Sayyiduna Umar Bin Khattab رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. When the Caliph رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ questioned him about the matter, Sayyiduna Miswar Bin Makhramah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما replied: ‘Leader of the Faithful! ‘Ukaz is a marketplace which is frequented by many people, most of whom have never heard the Quran. The person that I prevented from leading Salah has an impediment which prevents him from reciting the Quran correctly. I feared that people would fall into dispute if they heard the Quran being recited in such a manner. Thus, I replaced him with someone who can recite correctly.’ Hearing this, Sayyiduna Umar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ commended his actions and prayed for him. (Tareekh Ibn-e-‘Asakir, vol. 58, p. 166, selected)

For the sake of Sayyiduna Miswar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, may Allah Almighty grant us the honour of being a well-wisher of the Muslim community even when doing business.

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن  صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلہٖ وَسَلَّم