Sun Tzu and Surat Al-Bakarah

Last week, we spoke about lessons we can learn from the art of war and apply it to investing. Specifically, we spoke about how the first order of business for anyone in investing is not what they invest in, but by securing themselves first from the risk of ruin with an emergency fund. With that said, here is the next quote we will explore: “Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.”

Once the fighter (investor in our case) secures himself, the next logical step may seem to begin exploring what their options are and which strategy to explore. Where do they start? What do they invest in? How do they know what’s halal or haram? Before we dig into the details, I want to continue on building the foundation of a healthy mindset that provides you with the ability to succeed, or more accurately, secure yourself from defeat.

The idea is obvious in theory, but harder to accept in practice anytime you make an investment, there is the possibility of not getting the outcome you want. This may mean that not every investment you make will be a successful one. This can also mean as a Muslim (or ethical) investor, more research is required because your options are limited compared to someone who invests in anything that makes a profit. This is where Sun Tzu is spot on with the above quote. You may do everything in your hands, but you cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.

Like anything in life, investing in a halal manner means “sacrificing” the seemingly good for the known better. We may forgo an extra profit in our portfolio, but our afterlife investments will payoff in multiples. I put sacrifice in quotations because investing in a halal manner does not mean you will make less profit, and whenever you give up something for the sake of Allah, it’s never truly a sacrifice because the most generous and sublime will always reward you in multiples. We are never doing Him (SWT) any favors, we are just doing what servants should be doing. This reminds me of an ayah that is always comforting no matter the difficulty of what we are facing:

‫كُتِبَ عَلَیۡكُمُ ٱلۡقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرۡهࣱ لَّكُمۡۖ وَعَسَىٰۤ أَن تَكۡرَهُوا۟ شَیۡـࣰٔا وَهُوَ خَیۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡۖ وَعَسَىٰۤ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَیۡـࣰٔا وَهُوَ شَرࣱّ لَّكُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ یَعۡلَمُ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ﴿ ٢١٦ ﴾‬

Al-Baqarah, Ayah 216

The wisdom of this ayah is applicable beyond war, and can be applied to every domain of life. Fighting (struggling, striving, tiring effort) has been written for us as humans despite it being hated, but be wary of hating the struggle when it is to your benefit (whether now or in the afterlife or both). And of course, don’t you love the profit you forgo when it is harmful for you. Not all that shines is gold. Keep this in mind as you continue to build the mindset needed for your success: “The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.” The enemy (i.e some form of struggle in life) is inevitable. If we know that it is bound to arrive at some point, we must be ready to receive it. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially.

I hope you are finding benefits in this series, and can follow along of how setting these foundational bricks will help us invest with clarity.

Thank you for reading. Keep searching forward.