Fatwa ID: 05497

Answered by: Alimah Safiyya-Maryam Ahmed

Question:

If a man buys some pairs of shoes from another country and has them delivered home with the intention when he receives them he will sell them.

Now when the parcels come to custom (it is been sent from his sister who lives in that country) can she say she is sending it as a gift or a parcel to him? So, literally devaluing the shoes because the customs to pay is high and he won’t earn any profit if he shows it as sale shoes.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Being honest in business, though sometimes difficult and increasingly rare amongst the people, is a trademark of a believer. All forms of deceit and dishonesty are prohibited in Islam. We find many verses in the Qur’an exhorting honesty, condemning cheating and even examples of nations who were destroyed due to their corrupt business practices. In the business world where people’s main aim is to make a profit at all costs, it requires God-consciousness to remain honest, therefore it entails a great rank and reward.

“Woe to the defrauders! Those who take full measure ˹when they buy˺ from people, but when they measure or weigh something to give it to them, give less than due. Do such people not think that they will be resurrected, for a tremendous Day—the Day ˹all˺ people will stand before the Lord of all worlds?” [83:1-6]

“The honest and trustworthy merchant will be with the prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs.” [1]

If the law of your country requires declaring business goods for custom and tax purposes, you must do so. It is not permissible to lie and makes others lie for you. It may be worthwhile speaking to a financial advisor who may advise on legal ways to reduce taxes for businesses.

The Prophet [s] informed us that barakah in business comes from being truthful and transparent. May Allah Azza wajjal bless your business.

“If they are truthful and clear with one another, there is a blessing in their transaction. If they lie and conceal something, the blessing of their transaction will be eliminated.” [2]

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Safiyya-Maryam Ahmed

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

عَنْأَبِيسَعِيدٍعَنْالنَّبِيِّصَلَّىاللَّهُعَلَيْهِوَسَلَّمَقَالَ التَّاجِرُالصَّدُوقُالْأَمِينُمَعَالنَّبِيِّينَوَالصِّدِّيقِينَوَالشُّهَدَاءِ(سنن الترمذي,كتاب البيوع,  باب ما جاء في التجار وتسمية النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إياهم, حديث ١٢٠٩)

عَنْحَكِيمِبْنِحِزَامٍعَنْالنَّبِيِّصَلَّىاللَّهُعَلَيْهِوَسَلَّمَقَالَ الْبَيِّعَانِبِالْخِيَارِمَالَمْيَتَفَرَّقَافَإِنْصَدَقَاوَبَيَّنَابُورِكَلَهُمَافِيبَيْعِهِمَاوَإِنْكَذَبَاوَكَتَمَامُحِقَبَرَكَةُبَيْعِهِمَا(صحيح البخاري, كتاب البيوع, باب إذا بين البيعان ولم يكتما ونصحا, حديث ١٩٧٣)