Nahj al-Balagha Hadith n. 468

Selections from The Sayings and Preaching of Amir al-Muminin Ali ibn Abi Talib (Peace Be Upon Him) Including His Replies to Questions and Maxims Expressed for Various Purposes.
Translated by Sayyid Ali Reza

وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام):

Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said:

يَأتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ عَضُوضٌ يَعَضُّ الْمُوسِرُ فِيهِ عَلَى مَا فِي يَدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يُؤْمَرْ بِذلِكَ،

A severe time will come upon people wherein the rich will seize possessions with their teeth although not commanded to do so.

قَالَ اللهُ سُبْحَانَهُ:

Allah the Glorified, says:

(و لا تَنْسَوُا الْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ) ،

Forget not generosity among yourselves (Quran, 2:237).

تَنْهَدُ فِيهِ الاْشْرَارُ،

During this time wicked will rise up

وَتُسْتَذَلُّ الاْخْيَارُ،

while virtuous will remain low

ويُبَايعُ الْمُضْطَرُّونَ،

and purchases will be made from helpless

وَقَدْ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلى اللهُ عليه و آله و سلم عَنْ بِيَعِ الْمُضْطَرِّينَ.

although the Prophet (S) has prohibited purchasing from the helpless. 98

 

98. Generally purchases are made from helpless people in such a way that taking advantage of their need and necessity, things are purchased from them at cheap rates and are sold to them at high prices. No religion allows taking advantage of such helplessness and extreme need, nor is it permissible in ethics that profiteering should be resorted to at the time of others' helplessness.