Islam/Christianity Views of Trade and Merchants

Islam/Christianity Views of Trade and Merchants

Christianity and Islam both comprise very detailed and comprehensive outlooks relating to merchants and trade. In order for a religion to thrive, its views must sustain the growth of its cohorts' economy. Therefore, the perception of trade and the numerous benefits obtained from it should at least be endured, if not encouraged. For the duration of the later half of this millennia, Islam and Christianity both had acknowledged trade as a essential means for survival.

Islam's' perspectives of trade have changed slightly since its beginning. The three documents 2, 5 and 7 each share many common similarities. Each encouraged trade, but only when it is reasonable and moral. Islam instructs that the earnest merchant will be recognized among the martyrs upon his demise. However, in contrast, the corrupt merchant shall be chastised in the end (Doc 2). Ibn Khaldun recognized in the midst of the 14th century the essential need for merchants to preserve a stable economic system (Doc 5). This specific viewpoint acknowledges that of the Quran almost identically. The Islamic toleration of trade was undoubtedly restricted though. As late as the 17th century Islamic courts ruled that merchants should preserve customary practices/traditions and not give in to fresh more lucrative procedures (Doc 7). Islam is an extremely strict religion, but yet it still values the need for a successful economy. While trade was cautiously watched it has always been allowed to provide room for the expansion of Islam.

Christianity however, experienced no radical transformations in its understandings on the subject, the policies were undoubtedly if not definitely lessened if not entirely stretched. As Christianity was at its very origin, during the time of 75 CE, the improbability of obeying Christianity as well as being a profitable merchant were highlighted in the Bible. It first becomes apparent through the bible's text, when the bible reads: "though the rich man has no place in God's kingdom." As Christianity began to progress however, through it have been knowledge and exploration or simply greed, area for the merchant was made in the human insight of God's plan. As Reginald, the monk of Durham illustrates, the rich man while once a true Christian will have no more earthly desire for his once sought-after riches. His only desire will be to let go of earthly possessions and begin to seek God (Doc 3).

The logic behind the bible's preachings on trade provides an explanation to the direct sternness of the Christian Holy Book. This therefore lays the foundation for later intellectuals to entangle even more economic open-mindedness within the Christian teachings. By the late 1200s however, an almost Islamic outlook of trade was inherited by the Christians. In 1273, Thomas Aquinas highlights that all trade should be performed in a fair and just manner (doc 4). All throughout Christianity's expansion, the world experienced many reformations and adaptations. Its outlook of trade wavered considerably from its founding to current day. Without this reformation however, Christianity would in all probability not be as broadly spread as it is today.

Christianity and Islam today both share very comparable views/outlooks on trade. While Islam may have developed an effective policy from its early beginnings, Christianity arrived much later after countless years of adaptation and reformation. These guidelines/policies are just one out of the numerous contributing issues that made each of these two well-admired religions the most triumphant the world has ever seen.