Distributing Handkerchiefs and Prizes at Gas Stations
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
What is the ruling on distributing handkerchiefs at gas stations in exchange for refueling, given that some stations do not distribute these handkerchiefs? And what is the ruling on taking these handkerchiefs?
Answer:
Handkerchiefs and other prizes given to customers so that they buy from this shop or refuel from this station—these prizes are not permissible because they cause harm. They harm the owners of other shops who did not set up prizes, thereby harming people. Therefore, such a practice is not permissible. A person seeks his livelihood; if it comes to him, praise be to Allah, and if not, he does not resort to such tricks and prizes. I believe they are not free; they are taken from the customer himself. They increase the price in exchange for this prize. It is taken from the poor person, and he says, "This is a prize," while they increase the price and give him back from the increase they took from him. This is a form of consuming people's wealth unjustly and of harming the owners of other shops, because they will either have to do the same as he does or their shops will be left idle. This is harm, and it is not permissible to harm Muslims.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence the Shaykh,
What is the ruling on distributing handkerchiefs at gas stations in exchange for refueling, given that some stations do not distribute these handkerchiefs? And what is the ruling on taking these handkerchiefs?
Answer:
Handkerchiefs and other prizes given to customers so that they buy from this shop or refuel from this station—these prizes are not permissible because they cause harm. They harm the owners of other shops who did not set up prizes, thereby harming people. Therefore, such a practice is not permissible. A person seeks his livelihood; if it comes to him, praise be to Allah, and if not, he does not resort to such tricks and prizes. I believe they are not free; they are taken from the customer himself. They increase the price in exchange for this prize. It is taken from the poor person, and he says, "This is a prize," while they increase the price and give him back from the increase they took from him. This is a form of consuming people's wealth unjustly and of harming the owners of other shops, because they will either have to do the same as he does or their shops will be left idle. This is harm, and it is not permissible to harm Muslims.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence the Shaykh,
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 141/103 شرح زاد المستقنع/ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com (16:28)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.