The show has been organized by the Rifah Chamber of Commerce and Industry(RCCI), an association of businessmen and industrialists with its headquarters in New Delhi.
Stating that the Rifah was a movement and its basic objective was to highlight the importance of earning wealth through fair means, the JIH chief said that there were two important pillars of the Islamic religion – Zakat and Haj – that could not be performed if one did not have adequate wealth. These two religious deeds were obligatory for only those people who had sufficient surplus money.
“You cannot pay Zakat and perform Haj if you don’t have sufficient money”, the JIH leader said, stressing the importance of money even for performing religious obligations.
He said that out of 10 “ashra mubashshara” (companions of the Prophet Mohammed who were promised Paradise), four – Hazrat Abdurrahman bin Auf, Hazrat Usman bin Affan, Hazrat Talha bin Ubaidullah and Hazrat Zubair – were billionaires. The wealth owned by Hazrat Abdurrahman was worth 100 billion US dollars or Rs. 80,000 crores if calculated based on the current value of the US or Indian currencies.
JIH President said that all that wealth, Hazrat Abdurrahman had acquired through business only. And he spent a big portion of his earnings on charity and in the way of Allah. He left a huge amount of wealth when he died.
Giving the examples of billionaire companions of the Prophet, Mr Husaini said that one of the basic objectives of the Rifah is to revive the traditions of the four companions of the Prophet for the benefit of humanity.
Pointing out that businesses and industry were also a way to achieve success in life Hereafter (akhirah), the JIH leader appealed to the Muslims to strive for their share in businesses and enterprises.
To substantiate his arguments, Mr Husaini elaborated that the Quran which is the last guidance of Allah revealed for human beings through Prophet Mohammed, itself encouraged people to acquire wealth all been through fair means and spend it to helping others.
Quoting extensively from the Quran, he said that a rich person should return the favour of Allah by spending his wealth on others.
“Don’t forget to earn your share in worldly things, for worldly or mundane things are not only for those who disobey Allah,” the JIH President said, clarifying a major misunderstanding among a vast section of the Muslim population who feel that earning wealth and living a comfortable life is against the principles of Islam. This negative or retrogressive understanding of the teachings of Islam has added to the discouragement of the Muslim community from earning and multiplying wealth. This attitude of the community has also kept the Muslim community from contributing to the growth and development of society, for no development can be carried out without money. Keeping this negative attitude of a sizeable section of the Muslim community, the speech of the JIH chief was very progressive, encouraging, and inspirational to motivate the Muslim community to make the best effort to earn money and take part in the development of the nation and society. What Mr Husaini said was very much relevant because one could not help others if one did not have money.
Stating that the monopoly of a handful of people over business and hoarding or concentration of wealth in only a few hands was a source of “fasad” (mischief), he asked the Rifah members to bring new people into business by training and helping them.
Mr. Husaini informed that many Muslim businessmen during the medieval period in Istanbul, Jerusalem, and Baghdad had wakfed their properties for the beautification of their respective cities, indicating how the Muslims of those days cared about civic amenities and aesthetics of their towns and spent money to keep them neat and clean.
Pointing out that trade fairs or shows were the “Sunnat” (tradition) of Ambiya (Messengers of Allah), RCCI president S. Ameenul Hasan, said that the trade fairs were introduced by Hazrat Suleman and he used to organize international trade shows in open premises. Quoting from history, Mr Hasan said that Hazrat Suleman had established two sea ports for the international trade fair.
Quoting from Islamic scholar Dr Hamidullah’s book, he said that even Prophet Mohammed, a very successful businessman, participated in trade fairs in Yemen and Syria.
Rifah secretary Afzal Beg, JIH Karnataka unit president Dr. Mohammad Saad Bilgami, and JIH Karnataka secretary Yusuf Kanni also spoke on the occasion.
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