Crafts in Islam

الصناعة في الإسلام

Al-Maraghi calls crafts a pillar of the economy and the basis of civilisations, and a communal duty (fard kifaya) whose neglect makes the whole community sinful (p. 36). After al-Ghazali, farming, weaving and cupping are such duties (p. 36). The Qur'an mentions David's armour-making and Noah's ship-building (p. 37). The craftsman is a hired worker for what he makes and must perfect the work (p. 37). Concealing defects in what is sold is forbidden (p. 38). Forbidden crafts are those forbidden as work (p. 37).

Depth

At a glance

Era: The Prophetic Era
Region: Global / Diaspora
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The poor and the worker

Overview

Al-Maraghi counts the crafts among the chief pillars of civilization and among the communal obligations (fard kifaya) whose absence indicts the whole community — citing al-Ghazali on farming, weaving and cupping ¹. The Qur'an itself points to David's craft of mail-coats and the shipbuilding commanded of Noah ². The craftsman is a hireling in what he is commissioned to make: owed sincerity, mastery of the work, and keeping his word ²; the book cites "God loves that one of you, when he does a thing, perfect it," and Ahmad b. Hanbal's ruling that hiding a defect in merchandise is unlawful.

Connections

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Part of: Work in Islam

People and things also explored

Agriculture in Islam· Forbidden livelihoods in Islam· Trade in Islam· Women's work in Islam· Work in Islam· Ajr al-mithl (customary wage)· Basic needs· Spending in the way of God (infaq)

Sources

Issues of Work and Wealth in Islam — Abu al-Wafa al-Maraghi , p. 36
Issues of Work and Wealth in Islam — Abu al-Wafa al-Maraghi , p. 37

Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Crafts in Islam”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/crafts-in-islam/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.

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Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words. Related

Agriculture in Islam

Al-Maraghi presents agriculture as the oldest livelihood, after Ibn Khaldun, the simplest and closest to nature (pp. 27-28). Islam encourages it as the source of people's and animals' food and forbids farming usurped land (p. 28). Reviving dead land gives title, and a tract left unworked for three years may pass to another who works it, subject to the ruler's permission in practice (p. 29). The book warns against withholding surplus water and tells the Zubayr water dispute (pp. 29-30). Sharecropping is called muzara'a (p. 30).