Fatwa ID: 04118

Answered by: Mufti Eunus Ali

Question:

Salaam Moulana Saab,
 

My husband is wanting to do phone business. He is currently getting the latest new phones/electronics from someone online at a very cheap rate. This person claims that he gets the phones with a long process and its legit. He has not told us how we pay him through gift cards. Of course, there is doubt he could be getting them illegally. If we buy it from him is this sinful. He talks to us through Snapchat. I wanted to know if this is permissible? Will our earnings be halal if he is getting them in the wrong way? Also, my husband wants to sell them at a  much higher price than he gets them is this allowed?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

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

Answer:

Nu’man ibn Basheer (ra) has narrated: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, “That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear, and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, but he who falls into doubtful matters [eventually] falls into that which is unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around the boundary, only grazing therein. Truly every king has a boundary, and truly Allah’s boundary is His prohibitions. Truly in the body, there is a morsel of flesh, which, if it is whole, all the body is whole, and which, if it is diseased, all of [the body] is diseased. Truly, it is the heart.” (Bukhari Volume 1, Page 70. Maktabah Rahmaniyyah) 

Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), the grandson of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and the one much loved by him, who said: I memorized from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt. The truth brings tranquillity while falsehood sows doubt.”(At-Tirmidhi, Hadith No.2518, Volume 2, Page 214, Altaf and Sons) Imam At-Tirmidhi has classified it to be a Saheeh (authentic) Hadith.

The two Hadith mentioned above is sufficient to highlight that it is safer for a person to abandon all situations of doubt, more so when it may affect the hereafter.

Furthermore Nawwas bin Sam' an al-Ansari has reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Piety is a good manner, and sin is that which creates doubt and you do not like people to know of it." (Saheeh Muslim: 2355)

In regards to your question, a thorough investigation should be carried out and if after this you are satisfied with your findings then you may proceed with the business. However, if you are not, then it is best not to put oneself in the position whereby the hereafter may be jeopardized.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Mufti Eunus Ali

Checked and Approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham