فِى بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ ٱللَّهُ أَن تُرۡفَعَ وَيُذۡڪَرَ فِيہَا ٱسۡمُهُ ۥ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ فِيہَا بِٱلۡغُدُوِّ وَٱلۡأَصَالِ (٣٦) رِجَالٌ۬ لَّا تُلۡهِيہِمۡ تِجَـٰرَةٌ۬ وَلَا بَيۡعٌ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِيتَآءِ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِۙ يَخَافُونَ يَوۡمً۬ا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرُ (٣٧)
[God has full knowledge of everything] shining out in houses of worship. God has ordained that they be raised and that His name be remembered in them, with men in them celebrating His glory morning and evening: men who are not distracted, either by commerce or profit, from remembering God, keeping up the prayer, and paying the prescribed alms, fearing a day when hearts and eyes will dart about [in panic]. [24:36-37]
Remember Allah during your work
This part of Surat an-Nur talks about the people who remember Allah’s name in the morning and evening, and in the middle of the day when they are engaged in business. It is easy to remember Allah in the mosque, but the true test of imaan comes when you go out during the day and are busy with other business.
‘Remembering Allah’ doesn’t mean doing lots of tasbih all day, while cheating people in your business. The spirit of the ayah means remembering that Allah is watching over you all the time, and keeping a record of what you are doing. If you are making false claims about your products or cheating people out of their money, this is not halal rizq. You may think you are making a great profit in the dunya, but your akhirah savings account is filling up with big sins.
As well as this, Allah is talking about people who are so busy they neglect their responsibilities towards Him. Note that although the ayah mentions buying and selling, the principle doesn’t only refer to trading businesses but any employment that keeps you busy – e.g. in a school, hospital, office, etc. We need to constantly remember that Allah is watching us.
Zakat is an obligation that can follow you to the grave
It is essential for us to fulfil our responsibilities and fardh, such as salah and zakat. I used to know a good, practicing man who unfortunately misunderstood some of the rulings and thought that if he was paying his taxes, he did not need to pay zakat separately.
After he died, his family asked what to do about the fact he had never paid zakat. This is an obligation on him that remains as a debt after his death and will appear on his account on the Day of Judgement if not paid off.
His family said that if they paid everything he owed, they would be left with nothing. But at the end of the day, what is more important: the money, or your father’s akhira? Which do you love more?
Stay on the straight path
The last part of the ayah talks about a day when hearts will be shaken with fear. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to make the dua:
Oh Changer of hearts, keep our Hearts firm on Your Religion [Tirmidhi]
Hearts can change at any moment, so we can’t take anything for granted. This is why we ask Allah to keep us on the straight path, reciting it in Surat al-Fatiha at least seventeen times a day.
The fact that we are reciting the surah means we are already guided. The reason for continuing to ask for it is for us to be kept on the straight path in the future.
The reward for remembrance
لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍۢ
God will reward such people according to the best of their actions, and He will give them more of His bounty: God provides limitlessly for anyone He will. [24:38]
Doing business with people while remembering Allah means doing business with Allah at the same time. If you forget Allah, you might make a profit in the dunya, but you will have lost the profit of the akhira.
Allah will reward the best of what you have done, and increase you in His favours. It is like buying something from someone, only for them to throw in something extra for free at the end. Allah will top up the deal with something even greater. He is al-Kareem, the Most Generous.
Inshallah we will be among those who never forget Allah, whether in business or in mosque or anywhere else.
Delivered by Shaykh Haytham Tamim on Ramadan Night 28. Transcribed by Hana Khan.
Trade that does not distract the heart
By Samia Ahmed
In these verses of Surah an-Nur, Allah Almighty draws our attention to a very special group of people, people whose hearts are alive with the remembrance of Allah. They live in the world, they work, trade, buy and sell, yet their hearts remain firmly connected to their Creator.
Allah describes them in one of the most powerful verses of the Qur’an:
“Men whom neither trade nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah, from establishing prayer and giving zakah. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will dart anout [in panic].”
(Surah an-Nur 24:37)
These are the people of Allah. Their remembrance of Allah is not confined to the mosque or to moments of worship alone. They remember Him in the morning and evening, in private and in public, and even in the middle of their daily work and business.
Shaykh Haytham reminded us that the real test of faith often appears in our business dealings. It is easy to remember Allah in moments of comfort or during acts of worship. But the true measure of iman often appears when money, opportunity, or personal gain enters the equation.
Do we remain conscious of Allah when we are working, negotiating, selling, or making decisions that involve financial benefit?
The Qur’an praises those who are not distracted by their trade. Their businesses do not become idols that pull their hearts away from Allah. Instead, they uphold the same taqwa in their workplace that they show in their prayers.
This is an important question for all of us. In the rush of daily life, in meetings, deadlines, transactions and responsibilities, do we become so absorbed in our worldly pursuits that we forget Allah?
These verses remind us that a believer carries the awareness that Allah is always watching.
Allah says:
“Does he not know that Allah sees?”
(Surah al-ʿAlaq 96:14)
This awareness transforms how a believer behaves in their dealings with others. Honesty becomes a form of worship. Fairness becomes a sign of faith. Integrity becomes a reflection of taqwa.
If someone cheats people in business, takes what is not rightfully theirs, or gains wealth through dishonesty, that wealth may appear profitable in this world, but its consequences in the Hereafter are far greater.
The Prophet ﷺ emphasised the importance of honesty in trade. He said:
“The truthful and trustworthy merchant will be with the Prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs.”
(Tirmidhi)
What a remarkable elevation of status. Honest business, when done with sincerity and integrity, becomes a path to the highest ranks in the Hereafter.
At the same time, these verses remind us that the believer never allows the dunya to completely occupy the heart. Work and trade are necessary, but they must never overshadow the remembrance of Allah or cause us to forget the reality of the Hereafter.
Allah describes these believers as people who are deeply aware of the Day of Judgement:
“They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be shaken [with terror].”
(Surah an-Nur 24:37)
Their awareness of the Hereafter shapes their priorities. They perform their duties in this world, but their hearts remain attached to what lies beyond it.
Money is often one of the greatest tests of faith. It is something the human heart naturally inclines towards. Wealth offers comfort, opportunity and security. Yet it can also become a distraction, pulling a person away from their purpose if the heart becomes attached to it.
This is why the Prophet ﷺ repeatedly reminded us of the fragility of the human heart.
ʿAisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet ﷺfrequently made the supplication:
“O Turner of hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion.”
(Tirmidhi)
If the Prophet ﷺ himself constantly asked Allah to keep his heart firm, how much more should we ask for the same?
Faith should never be taken for granted. Hearts change. Circumstances change. The dunya constantly pulls us in different directions. This is why we ask Allah again and again to keep us on the straight path.
Allah has shown us the path and given us the freedom to choose. But with that choice comes accountability.
True success is not measured by the profit of this world, but by the profit of the Hereafter.
When a believer begins to see life through this lens, their entire approach to the dunya changes. Work becomes a means of earning halal provision. Wealth becomes a tool for doing good. Transactions become opportunities to demonstrate honesty and fairness.
Gradually, the believer begins to invest in the Hereafter rather than simply accumulating for this life.
Allah promises:
“So that Allah may reward them according to the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty. And Allah provides for whom He wills without measure.”
(Surah an-Nur 24:38)
Whatever reward we receive in this world can never compare to what Allah has prepared for the believers in the Hereafter.
Allah says elsewhere:
“No soul knows what joy has been hidden for them as a reward for what they used to do.”
(Surah as-Sajdah 32:17)
The gifts of this world, however beautiful they may seem, are small when compared to the eternal rewards that await the believers.
Ibn ʿAta’illah beautifully summarised this perspective when he said:
“Your striving for what is already guaranteed for you, and your neglect of what is demanded from you, is a sign that your inner sight has become clouded.”
Our provision has already been written by Allah. What we are truly being tested on is how we earn it, how we use it, and whether it draws us closer to Allah or further away from Him.
These verses invite us to ask ourselves a very honest question:
Is our work drawing us closer to Allah, or distracting us from Him?
The believers described in Surah an-Nur show us that it is possible to live fully in the world while remaining deeply connected to Allah. Their trade does not distract them. Their wealth does not control them. Their hearts remain attached in remembrance.
And because of that, their true profit is waiting for them in the Hereafter.
O Allah, make our hearts among those that remember You constantly. Do not allow the distractions of this world to pull us away from Your remembrance. Place barakah in our work, honesty in our dealings, and sincerity in our intentions. O Turner of the hearts, keep our hearts firm upon Your religion and make the Hereafter our greatest concern. Grant us provision that is halal, hearts that are content with You, and a place among those who remember You in the morning and evening.
Ameen.