Every Muslim is required to examine carefully his income sources to ensure piety and freedom from all types of prohibited transactions and doubtful matters. If a person's religious sentiment is weak, he will
fall into doubtful ways of earning money. This will eventually lead to ways that are clearly prohibited. Nowadays many do not care about their source of earning, whether it is halal or haram.
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, said:
"Verily, a time will reach the people, when the believer would not be concerned how he earned money, whether from Halal or Haram." (A sound hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad)
Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala said:
"And do not eat up property among yourselves for vanities, nor use it as bribes for the judges, with intention to eat up a little of (other) people's property wrongfully and knowingly." (Al Baqara, 2:218)
Besides the three primary physical needs of man, which are apt to make him greedy, there is a fourth greed in society, the greed of wealth and property. The purpose of fasting is not completed until this fourth greed is also restrained. Ordinary, honest men are content if they refrain from robbery, theft, or embezzlement. Two more subtle forms of greed are mentioned in the verse. One is where one uses one's own property to corrupt others - judges or those in authority - so as to obtain some material gain, even under the cover and protection of the law. The words translated "other people's property" may also mean "public property". A still more subtle form is where we use our own property or property under our control - "among yourselves" in the Text - for vain or frivolous use. Under the Islamic guidelines, this is also greed. Property carries with it its own responsibilities. If we fail to understand and fulfill them, we have not learned the full lesson of restraint while fasting.
