It is not permissible to sell something that will be used for sinful purposes
Question I heard from one of the shaykhs that it is permissible to sell and sew women’s dresses that do not cover a woman properly, i.e., short dresses, and he quoted as evidence the fact that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) gave ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be…
Question
Praise be to Allah.
This hadeeth was narrated by al-Bukhaari, Muslim and others
in several places and with several isnaads, such as the report narrated by
al-Bukhaari in the chapter on trade (tijaarah), concerning what it is
makrooh for men and women to wear, via Saalim ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar from
his father who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) sent to ‘Umar a hullah (two piece suit) made of silk, and he saw it on
him (i.e., saw him wearing it). He said: “I did not send it to you for you
to wear it, for it is worn by one who has no share in the Hereafter. Rather
I sent it to you so that you can benefit from it” – i.e., sell it. This
hadeeth indicates that it is permissible to deal in clothes that we are
permitted to use in one way but not in another, and it is permissible to
give them as gifts and donations, but the one to whom it is given or donated
has to use it the manner which is permitted, not in the manner that is
forbidden. For example:
Gold jewellery, weapons, knives, grapes, etc, which can be
used in permissible ways or in haraam ways. It is permissible to deal in
them and to give them as donations and gifts, so long as the one who buys
them or is given them will use them in permissible ways, such as selling
them, giving them, etc, and he will not make use of them in haraam ways.
But if the thing is something which it is haraam to use in
any way and under any circumstances, then it is not permissible to deal in
it or to give it as a gift, such as pigs, lions and wolves. There is nothing
in the hadeeth to indicate that it is permissible to sell the things
mentioned, so it is not correct to draw an analogy between selling
cigarettes, tobacco, and men’s and women’s bathing suits, and selling things
that may be used in some ways but not others or in some situations and not
others, because it is haraam to use these things in all cases.
And Allaah is the Source of strength.
