Islamic Texts praising Trade/Business/Wealth

1- The Prophet ﷺ said:

ﺍﻟﺘَّﺎﺟِﺮُ ﺍﻟﺼَّﺪُﻭﻕُ ﺍﻷَﻣِﻴﻦُ ﻣَﻊَ ﺍﻟﻨَّﺒِﻴِّﻴﻦَ ﻭَﺍﻟﺼِّﺪِّﻳﻘِﻴﻦَ ﻭَﺍﻟﺸُّﻬَﺪَﺍﺀِ

“The truthful, trustworthy MERCHANT is with the Prophets; the truthful; and the martyrs.”
[Tirmidhi, 1209 who said its a good Hadith ( ﻫﺬﺍ ﺣﺪﻳﺚ ﺣﺴﻦ )].
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2- The Prophet ﷺ said:

ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﺯَﻛَﺮِﻳَّﺎ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻠَﺎﻡ ﻧَﺠَّﺎﺭًﺍ

“(Prophet) Zakariyya ( ﷺ) was a Carpenter.”
[Sahih Muslim, 2379].
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3- Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radhiyallahu anhu) is reported to have said:

ﺃُﺣَﺪِّﺛُﻚَ ﻋَﻦْ ﺁﺩَﻡَ ﺇِﻧَّﻪُ ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻋَﺒْﺪًﺍ ﺣَﺮَّﺍﺛًﺎ
ﻭَﺃُﺣَﺪِّﺛُﻚَ ﻋَﻦْ ﻧُﻮﺡٍ ﺇِﻧَّﻪُ ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻋَﺒْﺪًﺍ ﻧَﺠَّﺎﺭًﺍ
ﻭَﺃُﺣَﺪِّﺛُﻚَ ﻋَﻦْ ﺇِﺩْﺭِﻳﺲَ ﺇِﻧَّﻪُ ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻋَﺒْﺪًﺍ ﺧَﻴَّﺎﻃًﺎ
ﻭَﺃُﺣَﺪِّﺛُﻚَ ﻋَﻦْ ﺩَﺍﻭُﺩَ ﺃَﻧَّﻪُ ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻋَﺒْﺪًﺍ ﺯَﺭَّﺍﺩًﺍ
ﻭَﺃُﺣَﺪِّﺛُﻚَ ﻋَﻦْ ﻣُﻮﺳَﻰ ﺃَﻧَّﻪُ ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻋَﺒْﺪًﺍ ﺭَﺍﻋِﻴًﺎ
ﻭَﺃُﺣَﺪِّﺛُﻚَ ﻋَﻦْ ﺇِﺑْﺮَﺍﻫِﻴﻢَ ﺃَﻧَّﻪُ ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻋَﺒْﺪًﺍ ﺯَﺭَّﺍﻋًﺎ
ﻭَﺃُﺣَﺪِّﺛُﻚَ ﻋَﻦْ ﺻَﺎﻟِﺢٍ ﺃَﻧَّﻪُ ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻋَﺒْﺪًﺍ ﺗَﺎﺟِﺮًﺍ

“Adam was a PLOWMAN,
Nuh was a CARPENTER,
Idris was a TAILOR,
Dawud was a MANUFACTURER (of iron shields),
Musa was a SHEPHERD,
Ibrahim was a FARMER,
Salih was a MERCHANT.”
[Al-Haakim narrated this in ‘Al-Mustadrak’ (4130) with a weak chain].
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4- The Prophet ﷺ used to send people in groups, and among one of these groups there was a companion whom his companions used to praise highly and they said:

: ﻳَﺎ ﺭَﺳُﻮﻝَ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ! ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﺇِﺫَﺍ ﻧَﺰَﻟْﻨَﺎ ﺻَﻠَّﻰ، ﻭَﺇِﺫَﺍ ﺳِﺮْﻧَﺎ ﻗَﺮَﺃَ

“Oh Messenger of Allah! When we used to stop he prayed and if we were on the road he used to recite.”

The Prophet ﷺ asked:

ﻓَﻤَﻦْ ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻳَﻜْﻔِﻴﻪِ ﻋَﻠَﻒُ ﺑَﻌِﻴﺮِﻩِ؟

“And who used to provide the food of his camel?”
They answered: “We did.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:

ﻛُﻠُّﻜُﻢْ ﺧَﻴْﺮٌ ﻣِﻨْﻪُ

“All of you are better than him.”
[Abu Dawud in his ‘Marasil’, 306 – Ibn Hajar said this is a good Mursal narration: ﻫَﺬَﺍ ﻣُﺮْﺳَﻞٌ ﺟَﻴِّﺪٌ ].
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5- The Prophet ﷺ said:

ﻭَﺇِﻥَّ ﻧَﺒِﻲَّ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺩَﺍﻭُﺩَ ـ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻼَﻡُ ـ ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻳَﺄْﻛُﻞُ ﻣِﻦْ ﻋَﻤَﻞِ ﻳَﺪِﻩِ

“The Prophet of Allah, Dawud (alayhissalaam) used to eat from the earnings of his manual labour.” [note: even though he was a KING].
[Sahih Bukhari, 2072].

It is reported from some of the Salaf that Prophet Dawud (alayhissalaam) used to give a Khutbah on the mimbar and weave palm leaves at the same time, which he would sell.
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6- The mushrikin (polytheists) said: How can we follow a human like us – who eats and walks in the markets?!!

Then Allah revealed:

ﻭَﻣَﺎ ﺃَﺭْﺳَﻠْﻨَﺎ ﻗَﺒْﻠَﻚَ ﻣِﻦَ ﭐﻟْﻤُﺮْﺳَﻠِﻴﻦَ ﺇِﻻَّ ﺇِﻧَّﻬُﻢْ ﻟَﻴَﺄْﻛُﻠُﻮﻥَ ﭐﻟﻄَّﻌَﺎﻡَ ﻭَﻳَﻤْﺸُﻮﻥَ ﻓِﻰ ﭐﻷﺳْﻮَﺍﻕِ

“Every messenger we ever sent before you ate food and walked in the markets.” [Qur’an 25:20].

Ibn Kathir says in the Tafsir of this verse:

( ﻭَﻳَﻤْﺸُﻮﻥَ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟْﺄَﺳْﻮَﺍﻕِ ‏) ﺃَﻱْ : ﻟِﻠﺘَّﻜَﺴُّﺐِ ﻭَﺍﻟﺘِّﺠَﺎﺭَﺓِ

“[And they walked in the markets], meaning: to seek trade and earn a living.”
[Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 25/20].
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7- Once, the sahabah passed a man who was impressively exerting himself while performing manual labour.

The sahabah said, “If only he was exerting himself this hard in the path of Allah.”

The Prophet ﷺ heard this and corrected them, saying:

ﺇﻥ ﻛﺎﻥ ﺧﺮﺝ ﻳﺴﻌﻰ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻭﻟﺪﻩ ﺻﻐﺎﺭﺍ ﻓﻬﻮ ﻓﻲ ﺳﺒﻴﻞ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ
ﻭﺇﻥ ﻛﺎﻥ ﺧﺮﺝ ﻳﺴﻌﻰ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺃﺑﻮﻳﻦ ﺷﻴﺨﻴﻦ ﻛﺒﻴﺮﻳﻦ ﻓﻬﻮ ﻓﻲ ﺳﺒﻴﻞ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ
ﻭﺇﻥ ﻛﺎﻥ ﻳﺴﻌﻰ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻧﻔﺴﻪ ﻳﻌﻔﻬﺎ ﻓﻬﻮ ﻓﻲ ﺳﺒﻴﻞ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ
ﻭﺇﻥ ﻛﺎﻥ ﺧﺮﺝ ﺭﻳﺎﺀ ﻭﻣﻔﺎﺧﺮﺓ ﻓﻬﻮ ﻓﻲ ﺳﺒﻴﻞ ﺍﻟﺸﻴﻄﺎﻥ

“If he has gone out, striving to provide for his young children, then he is in the path of Allah.
If he has gone out, striving to provide for his elderly parents, then he is in the path of Allah.
“If he is striving in order to protect himself [from the disgrace of begging], then he is in the path of Allah.

And if he has gone out in order to show off and boast, then it is the cause of Shaytan.”
[Tabarani, 15640 – al-Mundhiri and Haythami said the narrators are all reliable. Imam Suyuti also authenticated it and its also found in ‘sahih al-jaami’, 1428].
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8- Allah says in the Qur’an:

ﺿَﺮَﺏَ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻣَﺜَﻠًﺎ ﻋَﺒْﺪًﺍ ﻣَّﻤْﻠُﻮﻛًﺎ ﻟَّﺎ ﻳَﻘْﺪِﺭُ ﻋَﻠَﻰٰ ﺷَﻲْﺀٍ ﻭَﻣَﻦ ﺭَّﺯَﻗْﻨَﺎﻩُ ﻣِﻨَّﺎ ﺭِﺯْﻗًﺎ ﺣَﺴَﻨًﺎ ﻓَﻬُﻮَ ﻳُﻨﻔِﻖُ ﻣِﻨْﻪُ ﺳِﺮًّﺍ ﻭَﺟَﻬْﺮًﺍ ﻫَﻞْ ﻳَﺴْﺘَﻮُﻭﻥَ ﺍﻟْﺤَﻤْﺪُ ﻟِﻠَّﻪِ ﺑَﻞْ ﺃَﻛْﺜَﺮُﻫُﻢْ ﻟَﺎ ﻳَﻌْﻠَﻤُﻮﻥ

“God set forth a parable [of two men]: one is a slave, unable to do anything of his own accord, and the other a [free] man to whom We have given ample WEALTH, so that he can spend at will, both secretly and openly.
Can these two be considered equal?
All praise is due to God, but most people do not know.”
[Qur’an 16:75].
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9- It is mentioned in Tafsir Ibn Kathir (1414):

ﺇِﻥَّ ﻣُﻮﺳَﻰ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻠَﺎﻡُ ﺁﺟَﺮَ ﻧَﻔْﺴَﻪُ ﺑِﻌِﻔَّﺔِ ﻓَﺮْﺟِﻪِ ﻭَﻃُﻌْﻤَﺔِ ﺑَﻄْﻨِﻪ

“Musa, peace be upon him, hired himself out for the purpose of keeping chaste and to feed himself.”
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10- The Prophet ﷺ encouraged a man to do business:

ﺃَﻥَّ ﺭَﺟُﻼً، ﻣِﻦَ ﺍﻷَﻧْﺼَﺎﺭِ ﺟَﺎﺀَ ﺇِﻟَﻰ ﺍﻟﻨَّﺒِﻲِّ ـ ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ ـ ﻳَﺴْﺄَﻟُﻪُ ﻓَﻘَﺎﻝَ ” ﻟَﻚَ ﻓِﻲ ﺑَﻴْﺘِﻚَ ﺷَﻰْﺀٌ ” . ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺑَﻠَﻰ ﺣِﻠْﺲٌ ﻧَﻠْﺒَﺲُ ﺑَﻌْﻀَﻪُ ﻭَﻧَﺒْﺴُﻂُ ﺑَﻌْﻀَﻪُ ﻭَﻗَﺪَﺡٌ ﻧَﺸْﺮَﺏُ ﻓِﻴﻪِ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺎﺀَ . ﻗَﺎﻝَ ” ﺍﺋْﺘِﻨِﻲ ﺑِﻬِﻤَﺎ ” . ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﻓَﺄَﺗَﺎﻩُ ﺑِﻬِﻤَﺎ ﻓَﺄَﺧَﺬَﻫُﻤَﺎ ﺭَﺳُﻮﻝُ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ـ ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ ـ ﺑِﻴَﺪِﻩِ ﺛُﻢَّ ﻗَﺎﻝَ ” ﻣَﻦْ ﻳَﺸْﺘَﺮِﻱ ﻫَﺬَﻳْﻦِ ” . ﻓَﻘَﺎﻝَ ﺭَﺟُﻞٌ ﺃَﻧَﺎ ﺁﺧُﺬُﻫُﻤَﺎ ﺑِﺪِﺭْﻫَﻢٍ . ﻗَﺎﻝَ ” ﻣَﻦْ ﻳَﺰِﻳﺪُ ﻋَﻠَﻰ ﺩِﺭْﻫَﻢٍ ” . ﻣَﺮَّﺗَﻴْﻦِ ﺃَﻭْ ﺛَﻼَﺛًﺎ ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺭَﺟُﻞٌ ﺃَﻧَﺎ ﺁﺧُﺬُﻫُﻤَﺎ ﺑِﺪِﺭْﻫَﻤَﻴْﻦِ . ﻓَﺄَﻋْﻄَﺎﻫُﻤَﺎ ﺇِﻳَّﺎﻩُ ﻭَﺃَﺧَﺬَ ﺍﻟﺪِّﺭْﻫَﻤَﻴْﻦِ ﻓَﺄَﻋْﻄَﺎﻫُﻤَﺎ ﺍﻷَﻧْﺼَﺎﺭِﻱَّ ﻭَﻗَﺎﻝَ ” ﺍﺷْﺘَﺮِ ﺑِﺄَﺣَﺪِﻫِﻤَﺎ ﻃَﻌَﺎﻣًﺎ ﻓَﺎﻧْﺒِﺬْﻩُ ﺇِﻟَﻰ ﺃَﻫْﻠِﻚَ ﻭَﺍﺷْﺘَﺮِ ﺑِﺎﻵﺧَﺮِ ﻗَﺪُﻭﻣًﺎ ﻓَﺄْﺗِﻨِﻲ ﺑِﻪِ ” . ﻓَﻔَﻌَﻞَ ﻓَﺄَﺧَﺬَﻩُ ﺭَﺳُﻮﻝُ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ـ ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ ـ ﻓَﺸَﺪَّ ﻓِﻴﻪِ ﻋُﻮﺩًﺍ ﺑِﻴَﺪِﻩِ ﻭَﻗَﺎﻝَ ” ﺍﺫْﻫَﺐْ ﻓَﺎﺣْﺘَﻄِﺐْ ﻭَﻻَ ﺃَﺭَﺍﻙَ ﺧَﻤْﺴَﺔَ ﻋَﺸَﺮَ ﻳَﻮْﻣًﺎ ” . ﻓَﺠَﻌَﻞَ ﻳَﺤْﺘَﻄِﺐُ ﻭَﻳَﺒِﻴﻊُ ﻓَﺠَﺎﺀَ ﻭَﻗَﺪْ ﺃَﺻَﺎﺏَ ﻋَﺸْﺮَﺓَ ﺩَﺭَﺍﻫِﻢَ ﻓَﻘَﺎﻝَ ” ﺍﺷْﺘَﺮِ ﺑِﺒَﻌْﻀِﻬَﺎ ﻃَﻌَﺎﻣًﺎ ﻭَﺑِﺒَﻌْﻀِﻬَﺎ ﺛَﻮْﺑًﺎ ” . ﺛُﻢَّ ﻗَﺎﻝَ ” ﻫَﺬَﺍ ﺧَﻴْﺮٌ ﻟَﻚَ ﻣِﻦْ ﺃَﻥْ ﺗَﺠِﻲﺀَ ﻭَﺍﻟْﻤَﺴْﺄَﻟَﺔُ ﻧُﻜْﺘَﺔٌ ﻓِﻲ ﻭَﺟْﻬِﻚَ ﻳَﻮْﻡَ ﺍﻟْﻘِﻴَﺎﻣَﺔِ ﺇِﻥَّ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺴْﺄَﻟَﺔَ ﻻَ ﺗَﺼْﻠُﺢُ ﺇِﻻَّ ﻟِﺬِﻱ ﻓَﻘْﺮٍ ﻣُﺪْﻗِﻊٍ ﺃَﻭْ ﻟِﺬِﻱ ﻏُﺮْﻡٍ ﻣُﻔْﻈِﻊٍ ﺃَﻭْ ﺩَﻡٍ ﻣُﻮﺟِﻊٍ

“A man from among the Ansar came to the Prophet ﷺ and begged from him.
The Prophet ﷺ asked: “Do you have anything in your house?”
He said: “Yes, a blanket, part of which we cover ourselves with and part we spread beneath us, and a bowl from which we drink water.”
He said: “Give them to me.”
So he brought them to him, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ took them in his hand and said, “Who will by these two things?”
A man said: “I will by them for one Dirham.”
He said: “Who will offer more than a Dirham?” two or three times.
A man said: “I will buy them for two Dirham.”
So he gave them to him and took the two Dirham, which he gave to the Ansari and said: “Buy food with one of them and give it to your family, and buy an axe with the other and bring it to me.”
So he did that, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ took it and fixed a handle to it, and said: “Go and gather firewood, and I do not want to see you for fifteen days.”
So he went and gathered firewood and sold it, then he came back, and he had earned ten Dirham.
The Prophet ﷺ  said: “Buy food with some of it and clothes with some.”
Then he said: “This is better for you than coming with begging (appearing) as a spot on your face on the Day of Resurrection. Begging is only appropriate for one who is extremely poor or who is in severe debt, or one who must pay painful blood money.”
[Ibn Majah, 2198 – the chain is good].
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11- ‘Umar Ibn al-Khattab (radhiyallahu anhu) saw some people sitting in the Mosque all day.
He asked: “Who are you? ﻣَﻦْ ﺃَﻧْﺘُﻢْ ؟ “
They said: “We are people who trust in God – ﻧَﺤْﻦُ ﺍﻟْﻤُﺘَﻮَﻛِّﻠُﻮﻥَ !”

Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) said:

ﺇِﻧَّﻤَﺎ ﺍﻟْﻤُﺘَﻮَﻛِّﻞُ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻱ ﻳُﻠْﻘِﻲ ﺣَﺒَّﻪُ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻷَﺭْﺽِ ، ﻭَﻳَﺘَﻮَﻛَّﻞُ ﻋَﻠَﻰ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ

“The one who trusts in God is the one who throws the seed in the ground and THEN trusts in God.”
And he said:

ﻟَﺎ ﻳَﻘْﻌُﺪُ ﺃَﺣَﺪُﻛُﻢْ ﻋَﻦْ ﻃَﻠَﺐِ ﺍﻟﺮِّﺯْﻕِ ﻭَﻳَﻘُﻮﻝُ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻬُﻢَّ ﺍﺭْﺯُﻗْﻨِﻲ ﻓَﻘَﺪْ ﻋَﻠِﻤْﺘُﻢْ ﺃَﻥَّ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻤَﺎﺀَ ﻟَﺎ ﺗُﻤْﻄِﺮُ ﺫَﻫَﺒًﺎ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﻓِﻀَّﺔً

“None of you should refrain from seeking a living and then say: “Oh God, provide for me.”
You already know that the sky does not rain gold and silver!”
[“Ihya Ulum al-Din”, 2/351].
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12- Khadijah (radhiyallahu anha), the Prophet’s ﷺ wife was a successful business woman.
Ibn Ishaq said:

ﻭَﻛَﺎﻧَﺖْ ﺧَﺪِﻳﺠَﺔُ ﺑِﻨْﺖُ ﺧُﻮَﻳْﻠِﺪٍ ﺍﻣْﺮَﺃَﺓً ﺗَﺎﺟِﺮَﺓً ﺫَﺍﺕَ ﺷَﺮَﻑٍ ﻭَﻣَﺎﻝٍ

“Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (radhiyallahu anha) was a business woman and possessor of nobility and wealth.”
The Prophet ﷺ himself went to Syria on business as part of a business contract with her:

ﺧُﺮُﻭﺟُﻪُ ﺻَﻠَّﻰ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﻭَﺳَﻠَّﻢَ ﺇﻟَﻰ ﺍﻟﺸَّﺎﻡِ ﻓِﻲ ﺗِﺠَﺎﺭَﺓِ ﺧَﺪِﻳﺠَﺔَ
[Ibn Hisham in ‘Sirah’ (1/118)].
————————————

13- The Prophet ﷺ made the following Du’a for one of his companions:

ﺑَﺎﺭَﻙَ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻟَﻚَ ﻓِﻲ ﺃَﻫْﻠِﻚَ ﻭَﻣَﺎﻟِﻚَ

“May Allah bless your family and your wealth for you.”
[Nasai, 4683 – good chain].

And the Prophet ﷺ himself used to make the Du’a:

ﺍﻟﻠﻬﻢ ﺇﻧﻲ ﺃﺳﺄﻟﻚ ﺍﻟﻬﺪﻯ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻘﻰ ﻭﺍﻟﻌﻔﺎﻑ ﻭﺍﻟﻐﻨﻰ

“O Allah! I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity and self- sufficiency.”
[Sahih Muslim, 6566].
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14- Aishah (radhiyallahu anha) said:

ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﺃَﺻْﺤَﺎﺏُ ﺭَﺳُﻮﻝِ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ ﻋُﻤَّﺎﻝَ ﺃَﻧْﻔُﺴِﻬِﻢْ

“The companions of Allah’s Apostle used to practice manual labour.”
[Sahih Bukhari, 2071].
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Narrated Abu Huraira (radhiyallahu anhu):

The Prophet ﷺ said,

ﺣَﺪَّﺛَﻨَﺎ ﻋُﻤَﺮُ ﺑْﻦُ ﺣَﻔْﺺِ ﺑْﻦِ ﻏِﻴَﺎﺙٍ، ﺣَﺪَّﺛَﻨَﺎ ﺃَﺑِﻲ، ﺣَﺪَّﺛَﻨَﺎ ﺍﻷَﻋْﻤَﺶُ، ﺣَﺪَّﺛَﻨَﺎ ﺃَﺑُﻮ ﺻَﺎﻟِﺢٍ، ﻋَﻦْ ﺃَﺑِﻲ ﻫُﺮَﻳْﺮَﺓَ، ﻋَﻦِ ﺍﻟﻨَّﺒِﻲِّ ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ ﻗَﺎﻝَ ” ﻷَﻥْ ﻳَﺄْﺧُﺬَ ﺃَﺣَﺪُﻛُﻢْ ﺣَﺒْﻠَﻪُ، ﺛُﻢَّ ﻳَﻐْﺪُﻭَ ـ ﺃَﺣْﺴِﺒُﻪُ ﻗَﺎﻝَ ـ ﺇِﻟَﻰ ﺍﻟْﺠَﺒَﻞِ ﻓَﻴَﺤْﺘَﻄِﺐَ، ﻓَﻴَﺒِﻴﻊَ ﻓَﻴَﺄْﻛُﻞَ ﻭَﻳَﺘَﺼَﺪَّﻕَ ﺧَﻴْﺮٌ ﻟَﻪُ ﻣِﻦْ ﺃَﻥْ ﻳَﺴْﺄَﻝَ ﺍﻟﻨَّﺎﺱَ .” ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺃَﺑُﻮ ﻋَﺒْﺪِ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺻَﺎﻟِﺢُ ﺑْﻦُ ﻛَﻴْﺴَﺎﻥَ ﺃَﻛْﺒَﺮُ ﻣِﻦَ ﺍﻟﺰُّﻫْﺮِﻱِّ، ﻭَﻫُﻮَ ﻗَﺪْ ﺃَﺩْﺭَﻙَ ﺍﺑْﻦَ ﻋُﻤَﺮَ .

“No doubt, it is better for a person to take a rope and proceed in the morning to the mountains and cut the wood and then sell it, and eat from this income and give alms from it than to ask others for something.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 148]

Doing business/trade is highly encouraged and praiseworthy in Islam.

Money is not a dirty word.

Many Sahaba were extremely rich.

Without money, one entire pillar of Islam cannot be implemented: Zakat (charity).

The Prophets (alayhimussalaam) were involved in trade, and so were their companions and followers.
It only becomes reprehensible when it takes someone away from God’s remembrance or when unethical activities are involved such as cheating, interest, bribing, etc.

If its free from that – it is a highly rewarding act.

The Prophet ﷺ taught us NOT to beg, and that the upper hand is better than the lower hand and the strong believer is more beloved to God than the weak one.
As for those narrations praising the poor – it was meant to solace/comfort the poor and not to encourage poverty! It’s like the Hadith that says a person will be rewarded for even the prick of a thorn … it does not mean we should throw ourselves in thorns to get rewarded.

Allah says:

ﻗﺎﻝ ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ : } ﻋَﻠِﻢَ ﺃَﻥ ﺳَﻴَﻜُﻮﻥُ ﻣِﻨﻜُﻢْ ﻣَّﺮْﺿَﻰٰ ﻭَﺀﺍﺧَﺮُﻭﻥَ ﻳَﻀْﺮِﺑُﻮﻥَ ﻓِﻰ ﭐﻷَﺭْﺽِ ﻳَﺒْﺘَﻐُﻮﻥَ ﻣِﻦ ﻓَﻀْﻞِ ﭐﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﻭَﺀﺍﺧَﺮُﻭﻥَ ﻳُﻘَـٰﺘِﻠُﻮﻥَ ﻓِﻰ ﺳَﺒِﻴﻞِ ﭐﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﻓَﭑﻗْﺮَﺀﻭﺍْ ﻣَﺎ ﺗَﻴَﺴَّﺮَ ﻣِﻨْﻪُ { ‏[ ﺍﻟﻤﺰﻣﻞ 20: ]

Imam al-Qurtubi says the Tafsir of this:

ﺳَﻮَّﻯ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﺗَﻌَﺎﻟَﻰ ﻓِﻲ ﻫَﺬِﻩِ ﺍﻟْﺂﻳَﺔِ ﺑَﻴْﻦَ ﺩَﺭَﺟَﺔِ ﺍﻟْﻤُﺠَﺎﻫِﺪِﻳﻦَ ﻭَﺍﻟْﻤُﻜْﺘَﺴِﺐِﻳﻦَ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺎﻝَ ﺍﻟْﺤَﻠَﺎﻝَ ﻟِﻠﻨَّﻔَﻘَﺔِ ﻋَﻠَﻰ ﻧَﻔْﺴِﻪِ ﻭَﻋِﻴَﺎﻟِﻪِ ، ﻭَﺍﻟْﺈِﺣْﺴَﺎﻥِ ﻭَﺍﻟْﺈِﻓْﻀَﺎﻝِ ، ﻓَﻜَﺎﻥَ ﻫَﺬَﺍ ﺩَﻟِﻴﻠًﺎ ﻋَﻠَﻰ ﺃَﻥَّ ﻛَﺴْﺐَ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺎﻝِ ﺑِﻤَﻨْﺰِﻟَﺔِ ﺍﻟْﺠِﻬَﺎﺩِ ; ﻟِﺄَﻧَّﻪُ ﺟَﻤَﻌَﻪُ ﻣَﻊَ ﺍﻟْﺠِﻬَﺎﺩِ ﻓِﻲ ﺳَﺒِﻴﻞِ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ

He says that those who work and earn halal wealth, are equal in rank to those who strive in the path of Allah.

This view is strengthened by the first Hadith which says that the honest merchant will be with the martyrs in hereafter.

Ibn Muflih Hanbali narrates in ‘Aadab al-Shar’iyah’ (3/261):

ﻗﺎﻝ ﺇﺑﺮﺍﻫﻴﻢ ﺍﻟﻨﺨﻌﻲ ـ ﺭﺣﻤﻪ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ـ ﻭﺳﺌﻞ ﻋﻦ ﺍﻟﺮﺟﻞ ﻳﺘﺮﻙ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﻭﻳﻘﺒﻞ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺼﻼﺓ، ﻳﻌﻨﻲ ﻭﺭﺟﻞ ﻳﺸﺘﻐﻞ ﺑﺎﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ، ﺃﻳﻬﻤﺎ ﺃﻓﻀﻞ؟ ﻗﺎﻝ : ﺍﻟﺘﺎﺟﺮ ﺍﻷﻣﻴﻦ

Ibrahim al-Nakhai’ [a great imam of tabi’in] was asked:

‘Who is better among these two: A man who abstains from trade and spends his time praying or the one who is occupied with trade?’

He replied: “the truthful merchant.”

*This is talking about optional prayers, not compulsory prayers, which should not be missed due to trade.

As long as the income is Halal:

The Messenger of Allah ( ﷺ) said, “Allah the Almighty is Good and accepts only that which is good. And verily Allah has commanded the believers to do that which He has commanded the Messengers. So the Almighty has said: “O (you) Messengers! Eat of the tayyibat [all kinds of halal (legal) foods], and perform righteous deeds.” [23:51] and the Almighty has said: “O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you.” [2:172]”

Then he ﷺ mentioned [the case] of a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty, and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying “O Lord! O Lord!,” while his food is haram (unlawful), his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he has been nourished with haram, so how can [his supplication] be answered? [Muslim]

ﻋَﻦْ ﺃَﺑِﻲ ﻫُﺮَﻳْﺮَﺓَ ﺭَﺿِﻲَ ﺍﻟﻠﻪُ ﻋَﻨْﻪُ ﻗَﺎﻝَ : ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺭَﺳُﻮﻝُ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ ” ﺇﻥَّ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪَ ﻃَﻴِّﺐٌ ﻟَﺎ ﻳَﻘْﺒَﻞُ ﺇﻟَّﺎ ﻃَﻴِّﺒًﺎ، ﻭَﺇِﻥَّ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪَ ﺃَﻣَﺮَ ﺍﻟْﻤُﺆْﻣِﻨِﻴﻦَ ﺑِﻤَﺎ ﺃَﻣَﺮَ ﺑِﻪِ ﺍﻟْﻤُﺮْﺳَﻠِﻴﻦَ ﻓَﻘَﺎﻝَ ﺗَﻌَﺎﻟَﻰ : ” ﻳَﺎ ﺃَﻳُّﻬَﺎ ﺍﻟﺮُّﺳُﻞُ ﻛُﻠُﻮﺍ ﻣِﻦْ ﺍﻟﻄَّﻴِّﺒَﺎﺕِ ﻭَﺍﻋْﻤَﻠُﻮﺍ ﺻَﺎﻟِﺤًﺎ ” ، ﻭَﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺗَﻌَﺎﻟَﻰ ” : ﻳَﺎ ﺃَﻳُّﻬَﺎ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﺁﻣَﻨُﻮﺍ ﻛُﻠُﻮﺍ ﻣِﻦْ ﻃَﻴِّﺒَﺎﺕِ ﻣَﺎ ﺭَﺯَﻗْﻨَﺎﻛُﻢْ ” ﺛُﻢَّ ﺫَﻛَﺮَ ﺍﻟﺮَّﺟُﻞَ ﻳُﻄِﻴﻞُ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻔَﺮَ ﺃَﺷْﻌَﺚَ ﺃَﻏْﺒَﺮَ ﻳَﻤُﺪُّ ﻳَﺪَﻳْﻪِ ﺇﻟَﻰ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻤَﺎﺀِ : ﻳَﺎ ﺭَﺏِّ ! ﻳَﺎ ﺭَﺏِّ ! ﻭَﻣَﻄْﻌَﻤُﻪُ ﺣَﺮَﺍﻡٌ، ﻭَﻣَﺸْﺮَﺑُﻪُ ﺣَﺮَﺍﻡٌ، ﻭَﻣَﻠْﺒَﺴُﻪُ ﺣَﺮَﺍﻡٌ، ﻭَﻏُﺬِّﻱَ ﺑِﺎﻟْﺤَﺮَﺍﻡِ، ﻓَﺄَﻧَّﻰ ﻳُﺴْﺘَﺠَﺎﺏُ ﻟَﻪُ؟ .”
‏[ ﺭَﻭَﺍﻩُ ﻣُﺴْﻠِﻢٌ ]

[Reference : 40 Hadith Nawawi]