The Prohibition of Fraud in Sales

Question: We raise livestock and trade in them. At times some sheep or camels contract certain diseases, yet we still take them to market and sell them while they are ill. Are we blameworthy for doing so?

Answer: Buying and selling are matters that Allah ﷻ has permitted for His servants and by which their interests and benefits are maintained. Nevertheless, every transaction must rest on truthfulness, trustworthiness, and sincere counsel. The Prophet ﷺ said, “The two parties to a sale remain free to choose as long as they have not separated. If they speak truthfully and make everything clear, their sale will be blessed; but if they lie and conceal, the blessing of their sale will be wiped out.” He ﷺ also forbade cheating and said, “Whoever cheats is not one of us,” and he said, “Do not artificially inflate prices against one another, do not turn your backs on one another, and do not one of you sell over the sale of his brother. The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim.” There are many reports on this topic.

Therefore, if you sell a commodity that has a defect, you are obliged to disclose that defect to the buyer; you may not hide it or disguise it. Accordingly, when you sell those sheep that are suffering from illness, you must inform the purchaser of the sickness and sell them as defective animals, making everything clear to him. Only then will your transaction be based on honesty, free of concealment.