The following is an endorsement of the book “Masāʾil of Financial Transactions and Their Sharʿī Solutions” written by the Remnant of our Elders, the Sulṭānul ʿĀrifīn, the Faqīh, the Muḥaddith, Hazrat Muftī Ahmed Khānpūrī Ṣāḥib حفظه الله ونفعنا بعلومه وفيوضه:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Our pious predecessors were correct in saying that since the world came under Western colonization, the Dīn has been relegated, through a colluded plan, to places of worship, schools (madāris), and in the privacy of homes. The grasp of the Dīn on politics and financial dealings has not simply loosened but has slowly ended. Our approach also played a part in facilitating their plans.  The amount of emphasis and focus that we placed in our lives on worship (ʿibādāt) we did not place on the other branches (of Dīn).

Although, Islam is the name of five branches: Beliefs (Aqāʾid), Worship (ʿIbādāt), Transactions (Muʿāmalāt), Social Dealings (Muʿāsharat) and Character (Akhlāq), the importance of aqāʾid and ʿibādāt alone has remained significant in our sight. However, we have not given importance to the other branches as it should have been given.

There are two reasons why we have not given them importance:

The first reason is that in our own practice the amount of effort we have placed in rectifying aqāʾid and ʿibādāt, we have not placed in rectifying transactions (muʿāmalāt), social dealings (muʿāsharat) and character (akhlāq). The result of this is that if a person, Allāh forbids, leaves out ṣalāh, then he is considered evil and deemed deserving of criticism in the gatherings of the religious ones. However, if someone does not care regarding ḥalāl and ḥarām in transactions, or a person does not refrain from those evil characteristics which he is commanded to stay away from, he is not considered that evil in society.

The second reason is that in our religious institutions of learning the amount of importance we have placed on the chapters of ʿibādāt, we have not placed it on the chapters of transactions (muʿāmalāt), social dealings (muʿāsharat), and character (akhlāq). Whether it is books of fiqh or ḥadīth, all efforts in research and study come to an end in the Chapter of Ḥajj. If it goes a little more, it may reach nikāḥ (marriage) and ṭalāq (divorce). Not even the translation of the further discussions on trade and other transactions occurs. If the translation is even rendered, then the detailed discussions are not explained thoroughly like how the detail branched out issues of ʿibādāt are explained. This method of teaching of ours has shown that this is not such an important issue [i.e., these other branches of Dīn are not as important as ʿibādāt].

One excuse is that due to the plots of the enemies of Islam, the practical applications in the bazaars and politics do not remain in the grasp of the Dīn. Since there are not practiced, the masāʾil (laws) which are connected to trade, politics and other collective transactions have been consigned to the realm of an ideology. Naturally, we tend not to focus too much on ideologies as we would on practical matters present in our lives.

However, the reality is that these branches of the pure Sharīʿah are so inter-connected that a deficiency in any one branch has such a profound effect on the others that it renders them soulless. It is clear that one who does not differentiate between ḥalāl and ḥarām in earnings, even if he is completely punctual in his ṣalāh, fasting, and other ʿibādāt, his ʿibādāt will be rendered useless due to the evil effects of his earnings.

In every era, there have always been such people who after understanding the equal importance of every branch of the Dīn, continuously make the blessed effort of facilitating the paths to practicing on all the branches of Dīn [for the Muslims]. Our beloved and hounorable Hazrat Mawlānā Ghulam Rasul Khamosh Ṣāḥib (dāmat barakātuhum) is also part of this blessed group. This concern, that all the Muslims in general and specifically his people become those who practice on all the branches of the Dīn, always remains in his heart and mind.

This book which is in front of you is also a link from this chain, i.e., a treasure of sharʿī rulings regarding several transactions in which our Muslim brothers are involved. In the same manner that aqāʾid and ʿibādāt were revived by the efforts of our pious predecessors, this [book] has been compiled so that the branches of muʿāmalāt and muʿāsharat can be fulfilled according to the teachings of Islām.

May Allāh bestow this effort with beautiful acceptance, and make it beneficial, useful, and helpful to all Muslims in general and specifically to those for whom these masāʾil are being compiled. May Allāh bestow blessings in the knowledge of those respected scholars who played a role in it and may He grant the ʾUmmah tremendous benefits by their existence. ʾĀmīn Yā Rabbal ʿĀlamīn.

Dictated by (Muftī) Ahmed (Ṣāḥib) Khānpūrī

May he be forgiven.

6th Jumādal Ūlā 1429 AH