Scenario 3: A person (Ibrāhīm) finalizes the sale of a sheep with the owner (James) for $600 and agrees to pay and collect it after three days. Another person (Ḥamīd) also wants this sheep, and he finds out the price Ibrāhīm and the owner agreed on. Within this period, Ḥamīd comes and lies to the owner (James) by saying that Ibrāhīm sent me to pay the $600 and collect it on his behalf or he lies to the owner that Ibrāhīm, my friend is no longer interested in purchasing the sheep. The owner (James) is deceived and believed this to be true. Thus, he took the $600 from Ḥamīd who took the sheep for himself.
In this scenario, this transaction contradicts the principles of the Sharīʿah as previously explained in scenario 1. [There are many finer details and rulings which branch out from this scenario. If the need arises, one should refer to their local scholars for details. However, the general ruling which the fuqahāʾ have stated is that in many cases, the second person’s (i.e., Bakr’s) sacrifice, who took the sheep without the actual Islamic owner’s permission and consent will not be valid. In some cases, as mentioned in “Fatāwā Hindiyyah”, the meat will not even be ḥalāl (lawful) for him to eat or distribute to his relatives. In some cases, the sacrifice made by Bakr would actually be on behalf of the real owner, Zaid.] Here, it is worsened by the fact that it includes lying which is one of the major sins which leads a person to Jahannam.
There are countless ḥadīths that prohibit lying, here we will suffice on a few.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said: “Both the buyer and the seller have the choice of refund as long as they do not separate. If they speak the truth and do not hide anything, then there will be blessings (barakah) in their transaction. If they lie and conceal anything, the blessing of their transaction will be erased.” [Jāmeʿ Tirmidhī]
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said: “Falsehood leads to al-fajūr (i.e., wickedness, evil-doing), and wickedness leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allāh as a liar.” [Ṣaḥịḥ Bukhārī]
In another ḥadīth, lying has been outlined as one of the signs of hypocrisy. [Ṣaḥịḥ Bukhārī]
How can we present such a sacred act of worship before Allāh and hope for acceptance after we have lied in the process and committed such a grave sin? How hypocritical is it of us to claim to be believers when we find nothing wrong in lying and deceiving to acquire that which we desire? How will there be any barakah in our sacrifice after our Nabī ﷺ has clearly stated that if a person lies, the blessing of the transaction is removed?
Scenario 4: ʿAmr goes looking for a sheep. He spots a big, healthy one which he estimates its value to be approximately $800. When he speaks with the seller (Sam), he informs him that he is selling it for $400. ʿAmr feels that Sam most probably stole this sheep as he is offering such a low price for a sheep usually valued at a much higher price. Nevertheless, he still goes ahead and buys the sheep from him.
The transaction described in this scenario is not permissible.
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “He who buys the stolen property, with the knowledge that it was stolen, shares in the sin and shame of stealing.” [Sunan Bayhaqī]
Hazrat Muftī Ahmed Khanpuri ṣāḥib حفظه اللهmentions in “Maḥmūdul Fatāwā” that the qurbānī of an animal which was bought from someone who stole it is not valid.
Scenario 5: Zaid wishes to purchase a sheep from the owner (Peter) who offers to sell it at $500. Zaid agrees. After taking the sheep and placing it in his van, Zaid gives the seller (Peter) $450 instead of the agreed upon $500. The owner (Peter) is not pleased with this.
The transaction described in this scenario is incorrect. After the offer (ījāb) and the acceptance (qabūl), the sale is finalised upon the price which was agreed upon. It is not correct to pay less than the agreed upon amount when the owner is not happy with being paid less.
Allāh Taʿālā says in the Holy Qurʾān:
“O you who have Imān, do not unjustly consume the wealth of each other (by stealing or by other unacceptable means), but (you may exchange wealth with each other) by way of trade (conducted) with your mutual consent.” {Sūrah Nisāʾ: 29}
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “You must not act oppressively, and it is not permissible to take a person’s wealth without his consent/agreement.” [Shuʿbul ʾImān]
It is also not correct to agree on the $500 and then deceive the owner by only paying $450.
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ also said: “The one who deceives is not one of us.” [Jāmeʿ Tirmidhī]
When purchasing your animal for qurbānī, keep the following in mind:
- Ensure that no one has already finalised the sale or even the offer of purchasing the animal.
- Do not lie.
- Do not be deceptive.
- Do not purchase an animal while knowing or having the predominant belief that it is stolen.
- Do not pay less than the agreed upon price.
May Allāh Taʿālā grant us the tawfīq. Āmīn.
Dārul Iftā wal Irshād
Sirājul ʿUlūm Institute
Reviewed and concurred by:
Muftī Muhammed Teladia (Darul Hamd)