Things That Are Forbidden in Buying and Selling and Its Verses

Buying and selling is a matter that is familiar for Muslims. This often becomes the part of the way to make a living. Of course it is only with the goods or services and the way that is halal in Islam.

However, many people may not know that in buying and selling, there are the things that are forbidden or haram. What are those? Check out below!

• Lying or Deceiving

The honest buying and selling or trading will bring blessings to the person. Meanwhile, the dishonesty in trading will not give blessings for the person. This is confirmed in the following hadith:

The Prophet saw said,

“From Abu Hurairah radhiallahu ‘anhu that the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam once passed through a stack of food. Then he put his hand into that stack and his fingers wet. Then he asked: “What is this, O the food seller?” He answered: “It was exposed to the rain, O Rasulullah.” The Prophet said: “Why don’t you put it on the top of the food so that people can see it? Whoever deceives then he does not belong to my group.”” (Hadith Muslim)

Then, be honest in everything including trading. Because honesty in Islam will bring goodness to the person.

From Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri radhiallahu ‘anhu, the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

التاجر الصدوق الأمين مع النبيين والصديقين والشهداء

“The trader that is always honest and trustworthy will be together with the Prophets, people who always honest and people who die as a shaheed.” (Hadith Tirmidzi, The Book of Al-Buyu’ Bab Ma Ja-a Tijaroti no. 1130)

• Swearing

Swear according to language means right hand. Meanwhile, according to the term, swear means strengthen the words by mentioning something that is glorified in certain words.

The law of buying and selling with swearing in Islam is makruh. It is either for those who lie or honest people. If that swear is done by a liar, then the law is makruh approaching haram. The sin is very great and there is a punishment threat that is very painful for the person.

Meanwhile, if it is done by the honest people, the law is makruh (tanzih) that should be avoided.

In buying and selling in Islam, swear can sell out the goods however it loses the blessing in it.

From Abu Hurairah radhiallahu ‘anhu, he said: “I once heard the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

“Swear can sell out the goods and lose the blessing.” (Hadith Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, Muslim and others)

Allah Ta’ala had said:

“Indeed, people who exchange their promises (with) Allah and their swears with a small price, they do not get a part (reward) in the afterlife, and Allah will not speak with them and will not see them on the doomsday and will (also) not purify them. For them a painful punishment.” (QS. Ali Imran: 77)

• Selling Goods That Are Not Proprietary

The law is haram to sell goods that are not their own or without the permission from the owner. Because the valid conditions or the ethics of buying and selling in Islamic economics, one of them is the people who own the goods and people who own a payment tool for the buyer.

The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

لَا تَبِعْ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَكَ

“Do not sell goods that are not yours.” (Hadith Abu Dawud 3503, Tirmidzi 1232, An Nasaa’i VII/289, Ibn Majah 2187, Ahmad III/402 and 434; validated by Shaykh Salim ibn ‘Ied Al Hilaly)

Those are the things that are forbidden in buying and selling and its verses according to the point of view of Islam. Hopefully it can give a benefit and insight of knowledge according to Islam for the readers. Aamiin.