Ja'far ibn 'Ali al-Dimashqi on community, money, and prudent management in trading and spending: four excerpts from his Kitab al-Isharat ila Mahasin al-Tijarat

Ja'far ibn 'Ali al-Dimashqi (circa 600/1200) is an important thinker in the history of Islamic economic thought. His ideas resonate rather well with current economic rethinking in view of the ongoing financial and economic turmoil. Here, four interesting excerpts from his Kitab al-Isharat ila Mahasin al-Tijarat are translated with light annotations. Keywords: Ja'far ibn 'All al-Dimashqi, Islamic economics, Kitab al-Isharat ila Mahasin al-Tijarat, community, gold, silver, commerce, expenditure, good management.
Introduction: The Author and His Work He is the Damascene Shaykh, father of al-Fadl, Ja'far son of 'Ali (al-Shaykh Abu al-Fadl Ja'far ibn 'Ali al-Dimashqi), and the work for which [...]