Are there any religious texts or sayings from the Salaf that show preference between trade and working as an employee, and which is better Islamically nowadays: trade or employment?

There is no explicit text stating the superiority of trade over wage-earning. However, its preference has been inferred from texts, including the hadiths: "The trustworthy, truthful Muslim merchant will be with the martyrs on the Day of Judgment," and "with the prophets, the truthful ones, and the martyrs."

Some scholars hold that trade is superior, while others believe that agriculture is better because its benefit is more general, it is closer to reliance on God (tawakkul), and charity is more evident in it.

Al-Nawawi is of the opinion that the purest earning is from manual labor. If it is agriculture, then it is the best, being manual labor, its benefit is general, and it involves reliance on God.

Ibn Hajar pointed out the scholars' disagreement regarding the best forms of earning, and that the purest among them is that which comes from manual labor, and that earning from jihad is the most honorable form of earning.

In summary, working in trade is better than employment, according to those who consider trade the best form of earning, because it is generally more beneficial to people, free from the employer's favor, a wider gateway to sustenance, more helpful for giving charity, and tawakkul (reliance on God) is more evident in it. However, the preference may differ depending on individuals and circumstances.