السُّوق

THE MARKETPLACE*

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2– Imam Ali (AS) in one of his letters to al-Harith al-Hamdani, said, 'Beware of sitting in the marketplaces for they are the meeting places of Satan and the targets of mischief.’
[Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 69]

3– Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, 'The most evil of places on earth are the marketplaces, for it is Satan's domain where he unfurls his flag first in the morning, takes up his seat and gives free rein to his offspring, from a vendor niggardly with his measure, to one who is reckless with his scale, to one who thieves off metres
[from cloth], or to one who lies about his wares – to all he says, 'Take advantage of this man whose father has probably died
[and has left him with an inheritance and no responsibility] whilst your own father is still alive.’ And he continues to do this from the first one to enter therein to the last one to leave.’
[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 84, p. 11, no. 87]

4– Abu Sa`aid narrated that Imam Ali (AS) used to come to the market and exhort, 'O market traders, fear Allah and beware of making false oaths, for though it may sell your goods, it eradicates all benediction thereof. The trader
[by nature] is corrupt, except those who take only their right, and give back the right due, and upon you be peace.’ Then a few days would pass, and he would come there again and exhort them as he did before. And when he would arrive, people would say, 'Here comes the big-bellied man', to which he would reply, 'The bottom of it may be food, but the top is knowledge.’
[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 103, p. 102, no. 44]

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* al-suq: market, marketplace – refers to any such public centre for commerce and trade