Dua when Entering the marketplace
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكُ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ حَىٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
English Transliteration: La ilaha il’lal’lahu Wahdahu La-Sharika Lahu, Lahul Mulku Wa-Lahul Hamdu, Yuhyi Wa-Yumeetu, Wa-Huwa Hay’yul La-Yamootu, Biyadihil Khair, Wa-Huwa Ala Kulli Shai’in Qadeer.
English Translation: There is none worthy of worship except Allah, Alone, without partner, to Him belongs the dominion, and to Him is all the praise, He gives life and causes death, He is Living and does not die, in His Hand is the good, and He has power over all things.
Marketplace Dua - Explanation:
Every day, you visit the marketplace to fulfill your essential needs, you must face various challenges. You know markets in general are fully decorated and attractive. The rich people, the new models of cars, phones, the tall buildings, the precious items, women without hijab and other things you see in the marketplace.
There is a great possibility that we may forget Allah in the markets. The new models of cars, phones and other things look amazing and we start praising them. Make sure to Allah who has given the man the mind, the ideas and the materials to make new things.
To seek guidance and ease in all your endeavors, it is strongly recommended that, upon entering the marketplace, you take a moment to recite the marketplace dua.
Dua before entering Marketplace
- Hadith
ٰSalim bin Abdillah (May Allah be pleased with him) said :
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ مَنْ دَخَلَ السُّوقَ فَقَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكُ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ حَىٌّ لاَ يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَلْفَ أَلْفِ حَسَنَةٍ وَمَحَا عَنْهُ أَلْفَ أَلْفِ سَيِّئَةٍ وَرَفَعَ لَهُ أَلْفَ أَلْفِ دَرَجَةٍ ”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever enters the marketplace and says: ‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah, Alone, without partner, to Him belongs the dominion, and to Him is all the praise, He gives life and causes death, He is Living and does not die, in His Hand is the good, and He has power over all things, Allah shall record a million good deeds for him, wipe a million evil deeds away from him, and raise a million ranks for him.” (Tirmidhi:3428)
Benefits of reciting Dua before entering the marketplace
There are many benefits of reciting marketplace dua:
- Earning Reward: The hadith promises immense spiritual rewards, including the recording of a million good deeds. This offers motivation for individuals to engage in this simple yet profound act of devotion.
- Forgiveness of Sins: Reciting the dua leads to the forgiveness of a million evil deeds, providing an opportunity for believers to seek redemption for their past mistakes.
- Spiritual Elevation: The dua results in the elevation of a million ranks, signifying a higher status in the Hereafter for those who practice it regularly.
- Guidance and Blessings: Seeking Allah’s guidance before entering the marketplace may lead to making better choices, conducting fair business, and experiencing His blessings in economic endeavors.
- Maintaining Integrity: It reinforces the importance of honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior in business transactions, which align with Islamic values. Spiritual Reminder: It will serves as a reminder of one’s faith and devotion to Allah for you.
- Protection from Temptations: By acknowledging Allah’s presence and seeking His guidance, it helps you remain morally upright in the face of temptations and unethical practices that may occur in the marketplace.
Why are Markets the Worst places On the earth?
ٰSalim bin Abdillah (May Allah be pleased with him) said :
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، أَنّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: ” أَحَبُّ البِلَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ، مَسَاجِدُهَا، وَأَبْغَضُ البِلَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ، أَسْوَاقُهَا ” (صحيح مسلم)
The Messenger of Allah –peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said, “The most beloved places to Allah are the mosques, and the ones he dislikes the most are the markets.” (Muslim)
Imam Nawawy said, regarding the saying of the Prophet –peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, “The place that Allah hates the most is the markets.” Because the market is the place where fraud, lie, usury, false vow, breaking of promise, abandoning of zikrullah, and other evil doings, happened.
The market is a place that causes negligence. Women tend to expose their beauty there. The market is also a place of free mixing among men and women and a place of roaring noise and abysmal talks. Allah the Glorified and Exalted detests the market, so a believer should also detest it since he dislikes what his Lord dislikes.
We should avoid going the market, not linger there for enjoyment, and only enter when we have genuine needs and necessities.
If markets are considered worst places, Should We Avoid Establishing Shops In Markets or engaging in business?
When you read the hadith mentioned abouve that markets are the worst places, it’s natural to have this question. One more question arises which is the mention of prophets going to markets in certain Quranic verses. That the prophets used to go to markets and trade.
The answer is that, the hadith, inwhich the market has been described as the worst places. This hadith does not prove the prohibition of going to the market, because it is proven by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to go to the market and to pray in the mosque of the market.
So going to the market eating and drinking in the market, or opening a shop, and doing business is not prohibited. But in the context of today’s situation, it is very important to keep a few things in mind regarding the market:
(1) One should not go to the market unnecessarily.
(2) Just as it is forbidden for a woman to travel unnecessarily and without a non-mahram, the same method should be observed for the market.
(3) At present, there are major Shariah-related scandals in the bazaar and street hotels, so while eating in these hotels, avoid Shariah objections, such as dancing, fornication, gambling, alcohol, and eating and drinking in hotels that sell prohibited items.
(4) Protect your yes.
