The Ruling on Deception in Buying and Selling
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His Eminence the Shaykh: If a Muslim buys goods from his brothers for the amount of (2500) riyals, and they are worth (1500) riyals in the market, is it permissible for him to take the matter to the court?
If a person buys a commodity for (2500) riyals, and it is worth only (1500) riyals, then if the seller knows that the price is (1500) riyals, but he finds this stranger who does not know the prices and sells it to him for (2500), he is sinful and it is not permissible for him to do so. If the buyer knows of this, he has the option to cancel the transaction, and this is called the option of deception; because (1000) out of (2500) is a lot. But if the deception is slight, like (10%), then it does no harm, and people continue to deceive one another with such amounts.
As for if the seller does not know,For example: that this commodity is worth (2500), and the price dropped and the seller does not know of its drop, then the seller is not sinful, but the buyer's right remains, and he has the option; because he has been deceived.
On this occasion, I would like to advise my brothers who engage in buying and selling not to deceive strangers among people. For example, some people have a boy come to them, or a woman, or someone ignorant of the price,He says to him: who is worth (100) riyals, and he raises the price, and the price is (80) riyals; because he is accustomed to most people haggling with him and lowering the price until it reaches (80). So this stranger comes and says to him for a hundred, and he buys it from him and leaves, even though if he had consulted him on the price, he would have lowered it to (80).
We say: This action is forbidden, meaning that he says to him for (100) and this stranger takes it,We say: this is forbidden for him. So if he excuses himself by saying that people haggle with him and desire a reduction,We said: then: there is no harm. But if you see that the man will take it for (100) and its true value is (80), it is obligatory for you when you see him taking the commodity for (100) without speaking to tell him the true value of the commodity, and he will thank you for that. So exploiting people's ignorance of prices is forbidden and a betrayal.
Here is a rule that we should all follow, which is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself). Do you love for someone to deceive you? No one loves that,Therefore: so do not deceive people,And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Whoever loves to be saved from the Fire and to enter Paradise, let his death come to him while he believes in Allah and the Last Day, and let him deal with people what he would like them to deal with him). Follow this rule so that you attain complete faith, and so that you are saved from the Fire and enter Paradise.
If a person buys a commodity for (2500) riyals, and it is worth only (1500) riyals, then if the seller knows that the price is (1500) riyals, but he finds this stranger who does not know the prices and sells it to him for (2500), he is sinful and it is not permissible for him to do so. If the buyer knows of this, he has the option to cancel the transaction, and this is called the option of deception; because (1000) out of (2500) is a lot. But if the deception is slight, like (10%), then it does no harm, and people continue to deceive one another with such amounts.
As for if the seller does not know,For example: that this commodity is worth (2500), and the price dropped and the seller does not know of its drop, then the seller is not sinful, but the buyer's right remains, and he has the option; because he has been deceived.
On this occasion, I would like to advise my brothers who engage in buying and selling not to deceive strangers among people. For example, some people have a boy come to them, or a woman, or someone ignorant of the price,He says to him: who is worth (100) riyals, and he raises the price, and the price is (80) riyals; because he is accustomed to most people haggling with him and lowering the price until it reaches (80). So this stranger comes and says to him for a hundred, and he buys it from him and leaves, even though if he had consulted him on the price, he would have lowered it to (80).
We say: This action is forbidden, meaning that he says to him for (100) and this stranger takes it,We say: this is forbidden for him. So if he excuses himself by saying that people haggle with him and desire a reduction,We said: then: there is no harm. But if you see that the man will take it for (100) and its true value is (80), it is obligatory for you when you see him taking the commodity for (100) without speaking to tell him the true value of the commodity, and he will thank you for that. So exploiting people's ignorance of prices is forbidden and a betrayal.
Here is a rule that we should all follow, which is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself). Do you love for someone to deceive you? No one loves that,Therefore: so do not deceive people,And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Whoever loves to be saved from the Fire and to enter Paradise, let his death come to him while he believes in Allah and the Last Day, and let him deal with people what he would like them to deal with him). Follow this rule so that you attain complete faith, and so that you are saved from the Fire and enter Paradise.