The news on Wednesday, January 8

Exporting means selling Iranian goods to foreigners and bringing money into the country, while importing means taking money out of the country to bring in products. Now, the question is, which one is superior to the other?

Download the special podcast on the advantages of exporting over importing

I will get straight to the point, but before that, I want to ask a question. I hope my friends, who have recently stepped into the world of trade, will answer it.

I address this question specifically to those born in the early 1970s and before.

How much would you have been willing to pay, just for someone to tell you in your youth:

That sustenance is divided into ten parts, nine of which lie in trade?

That Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said, “Do not abandon trade, for you will be humiliated and weakened”?

That the Imam (peace be upon him) told someone who had left trade, “Return to your dignity”?

Only to let you know about the superiority of trade over other professions, the emphasis Islam places on trade, and the abundance of wealth and wisdom within it.

That’s it.

They would not have done any actual trade for you, just pointed out the path, so your precious life wouldn’t be wasted in the arduous and exhausting paths of labor and employment.

How much would you have been willing to pay for this guidance?

Speak your answer louder, so the younger ones can hear and appreciate it.

It often happens that a person undervalues something precious simply because they do not recognize its worth. When they fail to acknowledge its value, they neglect to be grateful for it, and when they fail to show gratitude, the blessing is lost, slipping away from their hands.

Now, I will ask you a question.

In your opinion, are the wealthy people in our society becoming more religious day by day, or are they distancing themselves from religion and Sharia?

The answer is for you to keep to yourself because the answer to this question is directly related to Islam. If you say they are becoming closer and paying the due rights of God, then praise be to God, as we see Islam being supported.

But if you say they are distancing themselves, then we see Islam being left alone.

Allah does not need us to preserve and sustain His religion, but it is we who suffer when Islam becomes weaker.

Personally, one of the aspects I greatly admire about Arad, and I truly believe that God is supporting it, is that it strives to follow this verse.

"In order that it may not [merely] make a circuit between the wealthy among you."

Most of those who joined Arad and learned the ways of trade were they rich and wealthy?

Most of them were not. Interestingly, the majority of old traders and wealthy people have a strong dislike for Arad.

Not long ago, to help a friend in business, we visited a factory, and I saw that an old trader was sitting next to the factory owner.

I don’t know how it came up, but somehow the topic of Arad was mentioned.

I saw that the trader, like a bull that had been wounded, was angrily shouting about Arad and saying things that were only fitting for himself.

There was no insult or curse that he didn’t throw at Arad.

I didn’t say I was from Arad, but I simply asked, "What’s the reason for all this agitation?"

With all due respect, I don’t mean to offend, but his exact words were: "All the poor and destitute have come into trade and messed up all the equations."

I said, "So, are the people from Arad scammers?" He replied, "No, no, it’s not about fraud at all, and the number of traders has increased. Before, we used to set a price, and the customer had no choice but to buy. Now, no matter what product you put out, there are several of these people who are ruining the market."

I said, "Oh, so there’s competition now, which is great. All the advanced countries in the world have succeeded because they have become competitive."

I said this, and he became agitated, then said, "Are you one of them too?"

I didn’t want to get into a conflict with him because his friendship with the factory owner might have hindered my friend's business with the factory. So, I kept quiet, but in my heart, I was proud to be the writer of Arad.

These people kept the masses in ignorance for many years and kept them away from trade.

Now that Arad has come and spread trade among ordinary people, making the market competitive, they are in turmoil.

They are forced to think about exporting to grow their business, but they are so lazy, sticking only to the domestic market without exporting.

Even in the domestic market, Arad has made the space tight for them, and they are severely wounded and angry.

Praise be to God.

I only have one request from you, dear ones.

Let it be that, just as I asked this person whether the Arad traders are scammers, and he couldn’t say yes, let their mouths always remain closed from speaking ill of Arad traders.

Let them not be able to say they lie.

Let them not be able to say they are fraudsters.

Let them not be able to say they are deceivers.

Let them not be able to say they are usurers.

The only reason for their disturbance should be that there are too many of them.

I thought to myself, if this person paid the rights that Allah has set for the wealth of the rich in His book, he wouldn’t be disturbed by the number of Aradi traders. He would ultimately think, "I am going to give a portion of my wealth for the sake of God. I believe this portion, which some of those Aradi people from the lower class are benefiting from, is the same wealth that, by the grace of Arad, has reached someone from the lower ranks of society."

Therefore, since we have received the mercy of God, we should pay God’s due and help those in need. If God wills and we have time, I will discuss this issue further for you.

However, what follows in this verse, where Allah says that wealth should not circulate only among the rich, is very beautiful:

“And whatever the Messenger has given you, take it; and whatever he has forbidden you, refrain from it.” Surah Al-Hashr, Ayah 7

A few years ago, during the time when this poem, which was written in praise of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), became popular among the people, I had a discussion with someone from Ahlus Sunnah.

I am referring to this poem:

"Wave your veil, send our sustenance,

O one whose sustenance for both worlds flows from your veil."

The individual replied, "This statement of yours is polytheism (associating others with God)."

I said, "What would you say if I were to present an Ayah from the Book of God that affirms the very essence of this poem?"

He answered, "Such a thing is impossible."

I said, "What if I do present it?"

He replied, "I swear I will embrace Shiaism."

I responded, "I am certain you will not embrace Shiaism, but first, let me ask you a question."

I asked, "To which category do air, earth, and water belong, in terms of property?"

Since he was a scholar, he quickly responded, "They are part of fi’ (wealth that is acquired without fighting or conflict)."

I said, "May God bless you."

Then I asked, "Whom did God entrust with the authority over fi’?"

He replied, "I don’t recall at the moment."

I said, "It is unlikely that you do not recall."

I then recited the verse for him:

“And whatever the Messenger has given you, take it; and whatever he has forbidden you, refrain from it.”

I continued, "God granted the right of creation to His Messenger.

Do you agree with this?"

He responded, "Yes, I agree."

I asked, "After the Messenger, to whom do these rights of ownership pass?"

He answered, "They are distributed among the Muslims."

I asked, "Where did you get this understanding from?"

He replied, "So, what happens then?"

I said, "It goes to the closest individual to him."

He asked, "Where did you derive this from?"

I responded, "First, God declared regarding fi’: ‘For Allah.’ Then He said: ‘For the Messenger.’ How, then, did you give the right of God to the Messenger?"

He replied, "Because God does not have a physical presence, and as fi’ pertains to wealth, the right of God also goes to the Messenger."

I answered, "May God bless your father and mother.

Exactly as you said, when the Prophet no longer has a physical presence, this right is granted to the one mentioned after the Messenger in the verse: ‘And to the near relatives.’"

Finally, I asked, "Did the Prophet of God have anyone closer in kinship than Fatimah?"