Another aspect of what is good is that whoever gives priority to Allah’s command and prefers obedience to Him over the whims of his own soul, that choice stands as clear proof of his faith and a sign of his desire to return to his Lord. Whoever abandons something for the sake of Allah, Allah will replace it with something better (1); but whoever puts his passions ahead of obedience to his Master has ruined his religion, and with that loss comes the ruin of his worldly life as well.
The prohibition of selling is only temporary, lasting until the prayer has ended: “When the prayer is concluded, disperse through the land” in order to seek lawful earnings, “and seek Allah’s bounty” [Qur’an 62:10]. In other words, while the successful believer is occupied with worldly livelihoods, he should intend by them to secure the means to fulfil his obligations, relying on Allah for help, asking for His favor, and keeping hope and confidence in His grace constantly before his eyes; for depending on Allah and longing for His bounty are themselves acts of faith and worship.
Because involvement in trade can easily distract a person from the remembrance of Allah and obedience to Him, Allah commanded abundant remembrance, saying, “And remember Allah much, so that you may prosper” [Qur’an 62:10]—that is, remember Him while standing and sitting, in all your dealings and circumstances. Remembering Allah is the path to success: attaining what is desired and being saved from what is feared.
In this context it is fitting to keep fair dealing and benevolence toward people constantly in view, for that too is part of Allah’s remembrance. Everything that brings a person nearer to Allah counts as remembering Him, and every deed a servant performs seeking His reward is likewise remembrance. When someone is honest in his transactions and avoids cheating, he draws near to Allah through that conduct, because Allah loves honesty and it shields the servant from harmful practices. Whenever he shows leniency, makes a concession in price or goods, grants ease or postponement of payment, or the like, it is an act of kindness and grace—and therefore a form of remembering Allah. The Exalted said: “Do not forget to show graciousness to one another” [Qur’an 2:237].