Ramadan Talk Day 8: The wise merchant

 By Mukhtar Oyetunji

Years back I had listened to an enthralling lecture by a revered scholar in my locality wherein he made an albeit stunning analogy which keeps reverberating in my head every Ramadan.

He had talked about the parable of the Wise Merchant, it was like the first and so far the only time I heard such succinct explanation on something that actually is common knowledge to all and sundry. This knowledge is that which suggests merchants sell best in markets and conversely lose out when they decide to put up their stocks on ordinary days.

Customarily, especially in rural areas, market days are often fixed usually for every 5 days (Oja autorun) or at the very least, once in a week. On market days, merchants from far and near would come around with a full gallery of their merchandise. A plethora of items would be available at competitive prices while buyers troop in from all angles to get the best deals for the day.

At this point, there’s an often a balance between demand and supply or in some cases, the supply being more than demand. In the end, the buyers and sellers are all too happy to reach a compromise with little or no fuss.

By the end of the day, merchants who have made their products and services readily available and affordable are eventually patronised and would return home with little remnants of stock, a full pocket and a smiling face.

Once the day goes by, goods and services suddenly become premium until the next market day.

The merchant who doesn’t sell on the market day either due to lack of preparation or wrong information about the modalities of the market would then arrive the day after with his stock. Such merchant would only end up disappointed hence, underlying the common Yoruba saying; ‘ofo Ojo keji Oja’.

The above scenario was the picture painted by the scholar on that particular day with a string of comparisons made with Ramadan as we were close to the month of Ramadan that year.

Now to put things into perspective, We(Muslims) can be seen as the Merchants, while Allah(SWT) is the buyer.
Indeed, Allah likens the relationship between him and us (believers) to that of a trading relationship. He says in Surah At-Taubah, Q9 Verse 111:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرَىٰ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ
Surely Allah has bought of the believers their persons and their property for this, that they shall have the garden.

Similarly, in a number of other verses, Allah expresses his willingness to transact with us while he promises profitable reward for whomsoever heeds the call.

Here we are in the month of Ramadan where he’s at his most benevolent at receptive. The month of Ramadan wherein lies forgiveness, mercy and ultimately emancipation from the fire of hell. The month in which there is a night better than a thousand months. It is a month where acts of goodness are most accepted and rewarded in manifolds.

It is indeed the month that can be likened to ‘The Big Market Day’ wherein all merchants must be on high alert in order to sell their merchandise to the one and only buyer who can afford them and grant the appropriate recompense.

No doubt, the most valuable merchandise for Muslims in this Month and beyond are good deeds, so it is only wise to get them done for a seamless transaction with Allah.
It behoves on a Muslim at this point in time that there’s no room for frivolities but rather, to face the business of worship of Allah and good deeds squarely.

Allah (SWT) more pertinently asides from being ready to accept good deeds is also willing to accept all repentance, forgive all sins and grant all supplications. He surely has informed us to call upon him knowing that he’ll surely respond.

As a matter of fact, Allah is more eager to respond (i.e. transact with us than we are with him) especially given the word of the prophet (SAW) in a sound narration which informs that;

…Whenever a servant of his comes to him walking, Allah comes to him at speed.
Consequently, just like a wise merchant who has proper information of the market and has the right merchandise to sell, a Muslim must know that this is indeed the most auspicious month to carry out every kind of good to have the best chance of having them accepted while at the same time, carting home countless blessings from Allah.

This is the time for relentless work, it is the time for sleepless nights and restless days. It is the time to go all out in performing the most pleasant acts of worship and exhibiting the best of characters.

It is the time to engage in the endless recitation of the Qur’an while immersing one’s self in proper learning and understanding of the meanings of Allah’s precious words.

It is the time to get persistent and consistent in supplications for all heart desires both in the world and the next safe in the knowledge that Allah will accept and grant them bi idhnihi lahi.

We must know that Allah is closest to us now more than ever as he informs just 2 verses after the verses of commandment for fasting in Surah Al-Baqara, Q2 Verse 186:
And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way.

Mukhtar Oyetunji
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