The hadeeth “Every merchant will enter Hell except those who are pious.”
Question

                Is this hadeeth saheeh: “Every merchant will enter Hell except those who are pious”?.
Praise be to Allah.
    We could not find this hadeeth in this wording in any of the 
    books of Sunnah, but there are similar reports in the saheeh Sunnah, 
    including the following: 

    It was narrated from Rifaa’ah ibn Raafi’ (may Allaah be 
    pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah  (peace and blessings of 
    Allaah be upon him) said: “The merchants will be raised on the Day of 
    Resurrection as evildoers, apart from those who fear Allaah and are 
    honest.” 

    Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1210), al-Daarimi (2/247), Ibn 
    Maajah (2146) and Ibn Hibbaan (11/276). 

    Al-Tirmidhi said: It is hasan saheeh. Al-Haakim said: Its 
    isnaad is saheeh, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him.  

    It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah 
    al-Saheehah (994).  

    Al-Mubaarakfoori said in Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi (4/336): 

    “apart from those who fear Allaah” by not committing any 
    major or minor sin, such as deceiving and cheating, i.e., they treat the 
    people well in their business dealings or they obey and worship Allaah. “And 
    are honest” means they are truthful in their oaths and in everything they 
    say. 

    Al-Qaadi said: Because it was the habit of merchants to be 
    deceitful in their dealings and ruthless in selling their products in 
    whatever ways they could, such as swearing false oaths and the like, they 
    were judged to be evildoers, but an exception is made for those of them who 
    avoid haraam practices, are honest in their oaths and truthful in their 
    speech. 

    This was also the view of commentators, who interpreted 
    evildoing (fujoor) as referring to idle talk and false oaths, as it says in
    al-Marqaah. End quote. 

    There is also an indication in the saheeh Sunnah of the 
    reason why merchants were described as evildoers, which is because of their 
    wrong deeds such as false oaths and broken promises.

    It was narrated from ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Shibl (may Allaah be 
    pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah  (peace and blessings of 
    Allaah be upon him) said:  

    “Merchants are the evildoers.” It was said: O Messenger of 
    Allaah, has Allaah not permitted buying and selling? He said: “Yes, but they 
    speak and tell lies, and they swear oaths and sin (as a result).” 

    Narrated by Ahmad (3/428); al-Haakim (2/8) – he said its 
    isnaad is saheeh; it was classed as saheeh by the commentators on al-Musnad 
    and by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (366). 

    But trade is one of the best ways of earning a living for 
    those who are honest and sincere, for the honest, trustworthy merchant will 
    have a great reward. 

    It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be 
    pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah  (peace and blessings of 
    Allaah be upon him) said: 

    “The honest, trustworthy merchant will be with the Prophets, 
    siddeeqs and martyrs.” 

    Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1209) who said: This is a hasan 
    hadeeth but we know it only through this isnaad. Ibn Taymiyah said its 
    isnaad is jayyid, as noted in al-Mustadrak ‘ala Majmoo’ al-Fataawa 
    (1/163). 

    Abu Haamid al-Ghazaali (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
    Ihya’ ‘Uloom al-Deen (2/79): 

    These reports may be reconciled in several ways. We say: 

    We do not say that trade is better in all cases, rather trade 
    may be used to seek sufficient provision or more than what is sufficient. 

    If it is used to seek more than what is sufficient and to 
    increase and accumulate wealth that is not spent on good works and charity, 
    then it is blameworthy, because it is focusing on love of this world which 
    is the root of all evil. If the person also mistreats others and deceives 
    them, then it is wrongdoing and evil. 

    But if it is used to seek sufficient provision for oneself 
    and one’s children, then engaging in trade as a means of keeping oneself 
    from asking others for help is better. End quote. 

    See also question no. 21575.