What is the meaning of "trading is cleverness" and what is the ruling on trade in Islam?

The phrase "commerce is shrewdness" means that trade relies on skill and intelligence, and it must be permissible, free from deception and fraud. Commerce is permissible if the commodity is permissible, and buying and selling are lawful, free from deception and fraud, do not distract from duties, and do not necessitate anything forbidden. Scholars have differed on the best forms of earning: agriculture, earning by hand (craftsmanship), or trade. Most hadiths indicate the superiority of earning by hand and every righteous transaction. The best form of earning may vary depending on people's needs; agriculture is best when food is needed, trade is best when goods are needed, and craftsmanship is best when crafts are needed.