Selling Items That Are Used For Sin

Question: Is it halal to sell someone something one knows they will use for sin?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

It is forbidden to sell someone something that one knows they will use for sin (Minhaj al Talibin, Nawawi). This is considered directly assisting someone to disobey Allah.

Allah Most High says, ‘Help one another in good and righteous works, and do not help one another in sin and transgression’ (Qur’an, 5: 2).

For example, someone wants to buy a kitchen knife to go and stab someone, and you know that that is what they want to do, then it is sinful. This would be very different from selling something that could be used for something permissible and for something impermissible. For example, selling a gun to someone with a license who may or may not wish to use it in an unethical way.

Please see:
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/hanafi-fiqh/permissible-manufacture-sell-condoms/
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/hanafi-fiqh/selling-womens-clothing-and-using-real-women-as-models/
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/hanafi-fiqh/can-i-work-at-a-supermarket-checkout-that-sells-pork-and-alcohol/

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language