“Allah is fully aware of every act of injustice. Reducing measures and cheating customers are evil acts that can attract severe punishment.”
ABORU, LAGOS – Traders dealing in staple food items such as rice, beans, palm oil and other household commodities have been urged to desist from reducing measurements or shortchanging customers, with a warning that such dishonest practices attract the wrath of Allah and rob businesses of divine blessings.
The Chief Imam of Ajumoni Central Mosque, Pipeline, Aboru, Lagos, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf Naira, gave the admonition today during his Jumat sermon while reflecting on the lessons from the mission of Prophet Shuaib to the people of Madyan.
The cleric explained that Allah sent Prophet Shuaib to call his people to worship Him alone and to uphold honesty and justice in commercial transactions by giving full and accurate measurements and weights.
According to Imam Naira, the same problem persists in contemporary Nigeria, where some traders deliberately manipulate measurements to maximise profits at the expense of their customers.
He stressed that Islam does not prohibit making profits after taking into account legitimate business expenses, but warned that profits earned through deceit are devoid of Allah’s mercy and barakah.
“Allah is fully aware of every act of injustice. Reducing measures and cheating customers are evil acts that can attract severe punishment,” he said.
The Imam recalled that the people of Madyan ignored Prophet Shuaib’s warnings despite his sincere concern for their wellbeing. Rather than repent, they accused him of interfering in their affairs and branded him a liar.
He noted that Prophet Shuaib reminded them that his responsibility was only to convey Allah’s message and not to monitor their private lives, adding that he sought no personal gain from his mission except Allah’s pleasure and reward.
Imam Naira said Prophet Shuaib also warned his people that rejecting Allah’s message would lead to consequences similar to those that befell the nations of Prophets Nuh, Lut and Salih, all of whom were destroyed after persistently disobeying Allah.
He explained that the people of Madyan eventually threatened to kill Prophet Shuaib because of his preaching. However, Allah saved the Prophet and those who believed in him, while the disbelievers were destroyed instantly by a devastating blast. Their town was wiped out and Allah withdrew His mercy and blessings from them.
Drawing lessons from the Qur’anic account, Imam Naira urged Nigerians to fear the Day of Accountability, seek Allah’s forgiveness and sincerely repent, saying that returning to Allah remains the only pathway to national renewal and prosperity.
He also condemned the culture of food wastage, lamenting that many people previously wasted large quantities of food during ceremonies and social gatherings.
According to him, Nigerians are today experiencing economic hardship partly because of their wasteful habits of the past.
The Imam called on Muslims to advise one another against dishonest practices, even when those involved are relatives or close associates, stressing that justice must never be compromised.
He further admonished Islamic clerics and scholars to shun all forms of wickedness and exploitation, citing examples of individuals whose evil deeds eventually brought disgrace and punishment upon them.
Imam Naira concluded the sermon by urging the congregation to be kind to everyone, avoid every form of injustice and remember that every good or evil deed will ultimately receive its appropriate reward from Allah.
He prayed for Allah’s mercy upon Nigeria and appealed to citizens to return to righteous living so that the nation would be spared divine punishment and enjoy lasting peace, blessings and prosperity.
