QUESTION:
1. Is it permissible in Islam to sell contraceptives to individuals who are not married? Additionally, is it permissible to sell products that are to be used for entertainment purposes yet prohibited in Islam?
2. In the context of pharmaceutical sales, is it permitted to dispense and sell medications that are not approved by pharmaceutical laws without a valid prescription? Alternatively, if the intention behind selling such medicines is solely to assist people and gain profit, would it be considered permissible?
ANSWER:
1. Generally, contraceptives purchased by unmarried individuals are used to commit acts of sin. If the seller is aware that the individual is going to use it to commit sin, then it will not be permissible to sell it to him. (Re:- Fataawa Uthmaaniyyah Vol:7 Pg:170] Any item prohibited in Islam will not be permitted to sell.
كل ما يعلم البائع أن المشتري يعصي به يحرم بيعه له (الفتاوي الفقهية الكبرى ج٢ص٢٧٠)
وَيَجُوزُ بَيْعُ آلَاتِ الْمَلَاهِي مِنْ الْبَرْبَطِ، وَالطَّبْلِ، وَالْمِزْمَارِ، وَالدُّفِّ، وَنَحْوِ ذَلِكَ عِنْدَ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ لَكِنَّهُ يُكْرَهُ وَعِنْدَ أَبِي يُوسُفَ، وَمُحَمَّدٍ: لَا يَنْعَقِدُ بَيْعُ هَذِهِ الْأَشْيَاءِ؛ لِأَنَّهَا آلَاتٌ مُعَدَّةٌ لِلتَّلَهِّي بِهَا مَوْضُوعَةٌ لِلْفِسْقِ، وَالْفَسَادِ فَلَا تَكُونُ أَمْوَالًا فَلَا يَجُوزُ بَيْعُهَا وَلِأَبِي حَنِيفَةَ ﵀ أَنَّهُ يُمْكِنُ الِانْتِفَاعُ بِهَا شَرْعًا مِنْ جِهَةٍ أُخْرَى بِأَنْ تُجْعَلَ ظُرُوفًا لِأَشْيَاءَ، وَنَحْوِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ الْمَصَالِحِ فَلَا تَخْرُجُ عَنْ كَوْنِهَا أَمْوَالًا، وَقَوْلُهُمَا: إنَّهَا آلَاتُ التَّلَهِّي، وَالْفِسْقِ بِهَا قُلْنَا نَعَمْ لَكِنَّ هَذَا لَا يُوجِبُ سُقُوطَ مَالِيَّتِهَا كَالْمُغَنِّيَاتِ، وَالْقِيَانِ، وَبَدَنِ الْفَاسِقِ، وَحَيَاتِهِ، وَمَالِهِ، وَهَذَا؛ لِأَنَّهَا كَمَا تَصْلُحُ لِلتَّلَهِّي تَصْلُحُ لِغَيْرِهِ عَلَى مَالِيَّتِهَا بِجِهَةِ إطْلَاقِ الِانْتِفَاعِ بِهَا لَا بِجِهَةِ الْحُرْمَةِ، (البدائع الصنائع ج٥ص١٤٤)
2. If by violating the laws of the country there is a fear of being arrested and thereby bringing humiliation upon oneself and the Ummah, then selling such medication will not be permitted even though one’s intentions are good.
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Maulana Ahmed Saeed
Date: 14 Shawwal 1445 / 23 April 2024
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
