In Damascus, everyone knows where the marketplace for clothing is. There are dozens of stores strung together selling virtually the same material and fashions. Not only are the stores together, but when the time for prayer comes, the merchants pray together. They often attend the same study circles, have the same shaykhs, and are best friends.
It used to be that one person sold enough for the day, he would shut down and go and allow others to get what they need. This is not make-believe or part of a utopian world. It happened. It is hard to believe that there were people like that on the planet. And they exist to this day, but to a lesser extent. They are now old, and their sons have not embraced the beauty of that way of doing business.”

Purification of The Heart, Hamza Yusuf. (via rootofthree)