Among the matters in which people are negligent are the issues of sales.

The Shaykh : In sales: The foundation of sale is built upon two things, so pay attention, my brother. The foundation of sale is built upon two things: truthfulness and clarity. Truthfulness and clarity: that a person be truthful in his dealings, and that he clarify what must be clarified. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . Let me repeat the hadith: . It is lying to say: "I bought this commodity for ten," when he bought it for eight. This is lying. And why is it lying? Answer, everyone. Why did he say: "For ten," when it was for eight? In order to increase, to increase the price. It is lying to say: "This commodity is of such-and-such a type, which is good and durable," when it is of another type. For example, saying: "This is Japanese-made," when it is not Japanese-made, but of inferior manufacture. This is also lying. The one who sells in this manner, his sale is stripped of blessing, stripped of blessing.
There are some people who sell a commodity, knowing that it has a defect, but they conceal it. Then they say to the buyer, deceiving him: "I am selling you this frame, whether sound or defective," while he knows about the defect. Is this a sincere person or a deceiver? Answer, man: a deceiver. And among this is the sale of cars, which they call selling under the magnifying glass or under the microphone. A man comes and brings his car, knowing that it has such-and-such a defect, but he conceals it and says: "You have no claim except for the tires of the car." There is no doubt that this is deception and concealment, and that Allah the Exalted removes the blessing from his sale, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): .
And among people are those who deceive others. He appoints him as an agent to buy a commodity for him, saying: "Oh so-and-so, buy me such-and-such a book, for example." So this agent goes and buys it for himself, then sells it to the one who appointed him for a profit. He buys the book for ten, then sells it to his principal for how much? For twelve, for example. This is forbidden. Who did you buy it for?

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : No, he is an agent who bought it for the principal. He bought it for the principal. So how does he deceive him, buy it for himself, and then sell it to him for a profit? There is no doubt that this is deception, and no one, no one knows about it except that they would criticize him and say: "This is deception and lying."
So, what should this agent do if he wants to work for a wage? We say: He should agree with the principal and say: "I will buy you such-and-such a commodity, but I will take ten percent, for example. Or I will buy it for one hundred riyals, meaning: a wage of one hundred riyals, or something similar." As for deceiving him, the man appoints him, then he goes and buys the commodity for himself, and then sells it to him for a profit, this is the very essence of injustice and the very essence of deception.
Among this also, unfortunately, the buying of jobs has become common among people now. A man or a woman tries to get employed in their country, for example, and does not get it. Then a man comes to them and says: "Give me ten thousand riyals, and I guarantee you the job in the country."
Do you think that the officials, as soon as this man says to them: "Employ them in such-and-such a place," will employ them? Answer? No, they must take something, and this one takes something, and the third takes something, and the matter comes back to buying consciences, may Allah protect us. And this is not permissible, because it is not reasonable that a man takes ten thousand riyals simply by standing before the official and saying: "Oh so-and-so! This is a poor, needy person, employ him in such-and-such a place." This is not worth ten thousand riyals. But he will bribe, he will bribe the officials until he is able to reach his goal, may Allah protect us.
And the matters are many, and a person should advise himself, and know that there is a Reckoning, and that we in this world only work for what? For the Hereafter. Allah the Exalted said: . And Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said in describing the world: What? Think about yourself. In a month like this last year, you had companions, brothers, who are now in their graves, bound by their deeds. None of them can remove a single sin from their sins, nor can they acquire a good deed above their good deeds. And what befell them will befall you. Death passed over you to them, and others will pass over to you. Reckon yourself, save yourself before you are unable to. And in the hadith: Save yourself while you are in the time of respite. Everything is in your hands now. If you have been unjust to someone, you can seek their forgiveness for your injustice or return it to them. If you have been extravagant with yourself in what is between you and your Lord, you can save yourself from this extravagance. So reckon yourself, O brother.
I ask Allah to make me and you among the guided and those who follow the guidance, the righteous and those who reform, and to make our endings good, and to conclude for us with the oneness of Allah.
And to the questions, we ask Allah to grant us success in the truth.