Characteristics and Qualities of honest and successful businessman

 These characteristics include the following:

• Trade should not distract him from remembering Allah, may He be exalted, or from prayer, or from giving what is due to Allah from his wealth. Allah, may He be exalted, praises His believing slaves who do not let their business distract them from worshipping and obeying Him, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

{[Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about,

That Allah may reward them [according to] the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty. And Allah gives provision to whom He wills without account} [an-Nur 24:37, 38].

• He should seek that which is halal, and not bring for himself or his family anything that is haram. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

{O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly} [an-Nisa’ 4:29].

• He should keep away from dubious matters. In the hadith it says:

“Whoever guards against the doubtful matters will protect his religious commitment from shortcomings and will protect his honour from slander, but whoever falls into that which is doubtful will fall into that which is haram.” Narrated by al-Bukhari (52) and Muslim (1599).

• He should strive to be sincere and honest, and to fear Allah.

It was narrated that Hakim ibn Hizam (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The two parties to a transaction have the option (of cancelling it) until they part. If they are honest and disclose any defects, their transaction will be blessed for them, but if they lie and conceal defects the blessing of their transaction will be erased.”

Narrated by al-Bukhari (1973) and Muslim (1532).

It was narrated from Isma‘il ibn ‘Ubayd ibn Rifa‘ah, from his father, from his grandfather, that he went out to the prayer place with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). He saw the people buying and selling, so he said: “O merchants!” They responded to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), looking up and craning their necks to see him. He said, “Indeed the merchants will be raised on the Day of Resurrection as evildoers, apart from those who fear Allah and are sincere and honest.”

Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (1210) and Ibn Majah (2146); classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih at-Targhib (1785).

• Not neglecting charity

It was narrated that Qays ibn Abi Gharazah said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to say: “O merchants, selling involves idle talk and oaths, so mix it with sadaqah (charity).”

Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (1208), Abu Dawud (3326), an-Nisa’i (3797) and Ibn Majah (2145); classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud.

• Being lenient and easy-going

It was narrated from Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “May Allah have mercy upon a man who is easy-going when he sells and when he buys and when he asks for payment.”  Narrated by al-Bukhari (1970).

• Giving respite to one who is in difficulty, and reducing or waving his debt

It was narrated that Abu’l-Yusr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever waits for one who is in (financial) difficulty (to pay a debt) or waives it for him, Allah will shade him in His shade.” Narrated by Muslim (3006).

• Avoiding haram transactions and blameworthy characteristics that are not befitting for a Muslim, whether he is a businessman or not,

such as dealing with riba, engaging in ambiguous transactions, ‘eenah transactions [which involve selling something for a price to be paid at a later date, then buying it back for a lower price to be paid immediately], trading in haram things, deceiving, lying, cheating and so on.

• The Muslim businessman should also be keen to develop noble characteristics,

such as agreeing to cancel a sale or purchase if the buyer regrets it, or helping one who is in need. He should love for his fellow businessmen what he loves for himself, and offer a great deal of supplication for them and his fellow Muslims, asking Allah to suffice them with that which He has permitted so that they have no need for that which He has prohibited, and asking Him to make them independent of means by His grace, so that they will have no need of anyone except Him.

He should put his trust fully in Allah, turning wholeheartedly to his Lord, the Creator of means and causes, and the One Who grants provision to all creation.

He should keep away from greed, avarice, stinginess, miserliness, giving short measure, hoarding, and other blameworthy characteristics, and he should seek to develop their opposites, noble and good characteristics such as sincerity, kind treatment of others, loving good for people, generosity and so on.

Complete Answer :https://islamqa.info/en/answers/283602/characteristics-of-the-honest-muslim-businessman