Some problems of business ethics: islamic point of view 67 68 Philosophy and Progress Philosophy and Progress: Vols. LXI-LXII, January-June, July-December, 2017 1. Introduction ISSN 1607-2278 (Print), DOI : https://doi.org/10.3329/pp.v61i1-2.44203 Business has been emerged from the necessity of mankind. In primitive society, men fulfilled their necessities through mutual exchange of commodities. One had a kind of commodity while others had different kinds of commodities. So, they exchanged them with each other which is well-known as Barter system. SOME PROBLEMS OF BUSINESS ETHICS: However, it was not effective for long. It was also not possible ISLAMIC POINT OF VIEW to exchange goods for goods because of gradual increase of man’s diverse needs and demands. Human beings started to * produce goods for making profits instead of exchanging goods. Abul Khayr Md. Yunus So, they introduced some measurement such as the rare snail, the oyster, the stone and so forth for exchange of goods. But it Abstract was not also effective for long. Later metallic coins, bank-notes Business ethics is one of the important branches of applied ethics. etc. were used for the exchange of goods. In this way, business Many thinkers including ethicists, economists, academicians and activities gradually have been advanced. philosophers have tried to explore necessary principles, standards, rules and regulations for business-related issues. Islam, a major In business, there are different categories of people one religion of the world, has prescribed, from its very inception, has to respond to: shareholders, creditors, customers and necessary rules and principles for every aspect of life including clients, employees, dealers, vendors, suppliers, government and business and commerce-related dealings. This paper explores Islamic society as well as international companies and organisations. concepts of business, its principles, rules and regulations. From the So, business persons should abide by some rules and Islamic point of view, this paper shows that business is not merely a regulations for their dealings. Herein the question of ethics is job of profit-making, but also an ibadah (worship). Moreover, it involved in business. It needs principles, ideal codes of claims that Islamic business ethics is not only concerned with moral conduct, rules and regulations. In this regard, a discipline soundness of business persons, but also closely connected with the named Ôbusiness ethics’ was established by ethicists, moralists, salvation of man. economists, academicians and philosophers. It has definite Key words: Business, Islamic ethics, halal (lawful) earning, haram subject-matter, principles, standards and methodology. Islam, (unlawful) earning, consumer protection, corporate social as one of the major religions of the world, has its own way of responsibility. dealing with the business-related issues. In this paper an attempt has been made to explore Islamic attitude, principles * Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of and rules and regulations regarding business. Dhaka. E-mail: [email protected] Some problems of business ethics: islamic point of view 69 70 Philosophy and Progress 2. Islamic attitude towards business own efforts and capacity. S/He has to depend upon According to Islamic belief, the earthly life of human being is others. One can provide one kind of things or services transient while the life after death is permanent. In the life after and another can provide different kind of things and death man will be rewarded or punished for his/her earthly services. Thus one can meet another’s necessities. deeds. For this reason, the life and activities of an individual in That’s why men are dependent on one another. This this world is not less important. So, a man has to take this dependency can be met through business. So, without world seriously. S/he has to take this world seriously for his business human necessities cannot be met. livelihood and sustenance. One can’t live without earning. c. Business is a great source of income and gaining Accordingly, an occupation is most vital one for human being. wealth. There are many lawful ways to earn money and There are many occupations for earning, business is one of livelihood, but business is of great worth. In business, them. Islam has encouraged business and has given man has to engage wholeheartedly. It needs physical businessman a significant status. and mental labours through which man’s earning Islam places great emphasis on business. There are many becomes more pure. Quranic injunctions which have encouraged to engage in We should keep in mind that business cannot run without lawful trade and commerce. Al Quran vehemently prohibits to some principles, rules and regulations. Without rules and possess other’s property by wrong means. Allah (SWT) said: principles whimsicality and willfulness will be advanced in ÒO ye who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves business. As a result, business will be a means of exploitation in vanities: But let there be amongst you traffic and trade by and businessman will make money by hook or crook; mutual good-will.” (Al Quran, 4:29, vide, 73:20, 35:12, 62:10, customers and clients will not be taken into consideration for 30:46, 62:10-11) There are underlying wisdom in business their benefit. Eventually, the individual and society will be which are: harmed and degraded by the whimsicality and willfulness of businessman. For the intelligible reason, business ethics has a. Goods and services can be made available through been advanced through ages. For the same reason, Islam has business. One produces goods, but if one cannot provided some standards, principles, rules and regulations for distribute them to others, he/she will lose his interest in achieving wealth, means of production, distribution and producing further, or he will be bound to destroy his auxiliaries related to business issues. products. Similarly, if a skilled person or a service provider (like, an advocate) does not get any client to extend his service, he will lose incentive in his 3. Main purpose of business profession. So, business can uphold the availability of In early times, it was said that the business of business is goods and services. business. That means, the only motto of business was to make b. Necessities of human beings are multi-dimensional. profit. Nowadays, the idea of business has been changed. The One cannot fulfill his all needs and requirements by his idea of social responsibility has been conjoined profit- Some problems of business ethics: islamic point of view 71 72 Philosophy and Progress maximization amid continuing debates for and against the There are some indications in aforementioned verse. generation of profit in business. Some people think that making Firstly, whatever wealth man does possess has been given by profits are the only business of business while others hold the Allah. Man cannot own wealth without the grace of Allah. view that business activity should engage more than mere Secondly, he should use his wealth for the sake of the life after profits. (vide, for details, Satris, 234-249) Undoubtedly, death. His wealth should be used in such a way so that his business is profit-oriented enterprise. But Islam significantly ultimate purpose of the life after death will be realized. Thirdly, presents different implication by business. It refers business to man should not forget his portion of wealth in this world. He latent purpose of human life. The life after death is final, will endeavour wholeheartedly for legitimate needs of this permanent and eternal according to Islam. So, this worldly life world. It implies that he cannot lead an idle life. He has to is less important than life after death. A person wants to adopt a profession for his livelihood. Fourthly, man is achieve final goal in his/her life hereafter through all activities commanded to do the good for others as Allah has bestowed in this worldly life. For this reason, earning livelihood or wealth upon him. He will extend his support for others as much making profit only is not his/her main target through business. as he can by using his wealth. Finally, man has to keep in his S/He wants to earn livelihood and do business but s/he does not mind that by no means he will let his wealth to use in want to lose a little thing in life hereafter. That is why he loves producing collective ills or spreading disorder in the earth. His Allah, the Almighty, and the akhirah (the life after death) more wealth will be used for the well-being of mankind, not for than his business. enhancing harm to society. Giving priority and supremacy of life after death does not What follows from the above discussion is that whatever mean that the earthly life is valueless and adversary to wealth man does achieve through business is not his absolute mankind. Islam only discourages absolute concentration on property. He is obliged to spend his wealth according to the wealth. It suggests that man will run earthly activities but never command of his Lord. It is important to note here that the will forget his Lord and the life after death. Man will govern Islamic standpoint on the question of property is distinguished his earthly deeds in accordance with his Lord’s commands by from both the capitalist and socialist points of view. Unlike following the Holy Quran and the sunnah (the way) of the capitalism, Islam gives man conditional, not absolute right over prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Quranic indication his wealth, and does not allow him to spend it as he likes. regarding earning wealth, leading earthly life is reflected in the Unlike socialism, Islam gives man personal right over his following verse.