Allah, fabricating lies against Him. He will repay them for what they used to fabricate.” Thus, He mentioned the acts of worship and prohibitions they had invented. In Sahīh Muslim, ‘Iyād ibn Himār, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah Most High said: ‘I created My servants upright in faith, but the devils led them astray, forbade them what I had made lawful for them, and commanded them to associate with Me that for which I had sent down no authority.’”

This is a “great and beneficial principle.” That being so, we say:

Sales, gifts, leases, and similar transactions are customary practices that people need for their livelihood, like eating, drinking, and clothing themselves. The revealed law has established good standards of conduct for these practices: it prohibits what is harmful, makes obligatory what is indispensable, discourages what is inappropriate, and recommends what has a preponderance of benefit, with regard to their kinds, quantities, and characteristics.

Accordingly, people may buy, sell, and lease as they wish, except where the revealed law prohibits something, just as they may eat and drink as they wish, except where the revealed law prohibits something—even though some of these practices may be recommended or disliked. Wherever the revealed law has set no limit, the original unrestricted allowance remains in effect.

As for the Sunnah and consensus, whoever examines the various sales, leases, and gratuitous transactions reported from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the Companions, and the Successors: