Marketing is one of the most important part in a company. The main duty of a marketing officer is to sell products to make profit for the company. What does Islam say about marketing industry?
Marketing, which is a part of trading, had been existed long ago since the ear of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Prophet himself had help his uncle, Abu Thalib to sell his product.
Through trading, the Prophet eventually met his future wife, Khadija. Islam has its own context of marketing, with satisfying the needs of the customers through delivering Halal goods as the principal.
Here we’re going to talk about the law of working in marketing industries in Islam. Will it be similar with bank and insurance company, in which Islam says that working in both as haram?
- No Prohibition of Working in Marketing
Islam has certainly no prohibition of working in marketing industries. As said before, trading is one of the oldest occupation in Islam so marketing is no stranger in the religion. However, the word “marketing” had not existed back then. Also read Law of Working in an Insurance Company
But seeing the fact that our Prophet was a brilliant trader in his era, Islam has no prohibition about Muslims working in the marketing industries. There are certain conditions included, for sure, that is about the goods they sell. Muslims must only sell halal goods that will not leads into falsehood and sin.
- It’s Important to Stay Honest
One negative thing about modern marketing is that the officer do any means possible to sell their products. They neglect the value of honesty and sadly, they are the most successful among their peers.
A Muslim should be responsible to show honesty when they are doing their job as a marketing officer. The selling process may take a while, but the legacy stays forever.
- Avoid Lying to Your Customers
As said above, a marketing officer usually tells lies to sell their products. Islam doesn’t prohibit a Muslim to work in marketing, but they are not allowed to twist facts to the costumers.
They have to tell the real facts, not to add and reduce according to their will. Try to be honest when you do your job. Instead of telling lies, find the strength of the products you sell and highlight them. Also read Positive Attitude in Islam According
Assure your customers by stressing at the benefit. When you are being dishonest, your first customer may buy the products but you will hardly get the second since bad news spreads fast.
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- Don’t Sell Any Haram Materials
There is a law of working in marketing industries in Islam for Muslims that must be obeyed no matter what: never sell any haram materials. When you are accepted as a marketing officer, keep up with the details of what you should sell and what your employer requires you to do.
If you are told to sell anything haram, using lies and manipulation while trading your products, turn it down right away.
- Work in Marketing Could be Haram
Even though Islam never explicitly say that a Muslims should never work in marketing industries—in which it was said halal since the Prophet had done so, the job can be halal when they neglect the Islamic principles.
When you are expected to deceive and lie to the customers as long as you sell your products, then the job becomes all the way haram. Also read Law of Being Banker in Islam
- Do Not Undersell Your Products
Narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (RA) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “No man should undersell his brother.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
So you’re neither selling haram products nor deceiving your customers, but if you undersell your product, it will become haram. You have to sell your products according to the average price at the market. Don’t set a lower price than the others just to make your products sell better.
- Marketing is Halal As Long As It Doesn’t Violate Islamic Law
In short, working in a marketing industry is halal as long as you bring Islamic principles along with it. In any job you do to make a living, if you are violating Islamic law, it immediately become haram.
Work is worldly thing that is temporary, while life in the Hereafter last forever. Also read Labor Rights in Islam
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- Keep the Quality of the Products You Sell
When you sell something to your customers, you have to keep an eye on the quality. Adulteration is something forbidden in Islam, as well as omit and fabricate either the quality or quantity of the product. It can be considered as deceiving the customers.
- Certain Instruments are Haram to be Traded
Speaking about haram instruments to be prohibited in marketing, it’s all about a wide range. A Muslim must not sell any instruments meant for entertainment like music such as flutes and harps. Gambling instrument like backgammon is also prohibited to be traded. Also read Law of Treated with Haram Money in Islam
- Marketing Strategies That is Not Allowed in Islam Shouldn’t be Done
A marketing officer does everything to make their customers interested in buying their products. You can show them any selling skill, but you shouldn’t deceive them by performing magic. Moreover, learning magic and pass down the skill to others is also prohibited.
- Use Islamic Philosophies in Selling Products
Islam has its own ethic regarding the marketing skills. Equity and justice are above everything for sake of society welfare. Islam avoid dishonesty, deceit, and fraud in the business. Any act that going against the Islamic vision considered and breaking the law.
So those are the explanation about law of working in marketing industries in Islam. As Islam never prohibit Muslims who work as marketing officers, they shouldn’t forget about the responsibility they have towards the religion. Bring along the Islamic principles to work, in order to show others what our religion’s got.