This paper will compare and contrast the attitudes of Christianity and Islam toward merchants and trade from the religions" origins and any change over time until about 1500. Three main points can be made about this topic: of how a merchant should sell his goods or services, what a merchant is to society, and the basics of a merchant's life.
To sell a product for true value or to sell it for profit has always been a debate. Some people thought that a merchant should sell his goods or services for what they are worth and nothing more, while others believed that they should be allowed to turn a profit as long as the price is just and not price gouging. Support for selling a product for its true value is proved "In the document by Thomas Aquinas" (Doc. #4). In almost all cases this document could contain some bias because of who stated or wrote this passage may have been swayed by their religion. Also, this view of equal pricing is from a Christian point of view. On the other hand "a Muslim document by Iban Khaldun" (Doc. #5) supports the contrasting view that the price can be more that the true value of the product so that the merchant could make a profit. Both of these views can be said to have been swayed by how each author's religion viewed merchants.
The view towards merchants varies to both extremes; Some love them, while others hate them. "In the document from the Christian Bible, new Testament (Matthew)" (Doc. #1), a view of hatred was shown toward wealth and merchants, saying that heaven would not accept many rich men. On the other end of the spectrum, "An Excerpt from the Muslim Qur"an" (Doc. 2) supports those merchants who are true and not scam artists, which includes price gouging, and building them to be as important as martyrs. These contrasting views can be said to be bias once again because of the religion beliefs. .
The basic's of a merchant's life from either Christianity or Islam varies.
