The key difference between making Allah your business partner (shareek) and trading with Allah (qarz hasna) lies in the concept of ownership and intention in Islamic finance and spirituality.
1. Making Allah Your Business Partner (Shareek) – Haram
- In Islam, associating partners (shirk) with Allah is strictly forbidden.
- Saying "Allah is my business partner" implies dividing ownership with Allah, which is incorrect because Allah is the absolute owner of everything.
- A business partner shares profits and losses, but Allah is above such human transactions.
- This can also imply that Allah needs a share of your business, which contradicts the Islamic belief that He is free of all needs.
2. Trading with Allah (Qarz Hasna) – Halal and Rewarded
- Qarz Hasna (a beautiful loan) means spending in charity, helping others, and using your wealth in a way that pleases Allah, expecting a reward from Him.
- The Quran encourages believers to "loan to Allah a beautiful loan" (Qur’an 2:245), meaning to invest in the Hereafter by giving wealth in charity.
- This does not mean Allah is in need; rather, it signifies that whatever you give for Allah’s sake will be returned in multiples in the form of blessings and rewards.
Summary:
- Making Allah a "business partner" (Shareek) is shirk because it implies shared ownership, which is not permissible.
- Trading with Allah (Qarz Hasna) is an act of worship, where you give for Allah’s sake and receive His blessings in return.