Selling Gold From Zama Zamas

QUESTION:

Would it be permissible to sell gold obtained from Zama Zamas? Additionally, would it be permissible for me to eat at someone’s house whom I know is involved in this trade?

ANSWER:

“Zama Zamas” are illegal artisanal miners in South Africa who occupy closed or operational mines to mine for minerals such as gold, iron ore, coal, and manganese. The term “zama zama” loosely translates to “take a chance” in isiZulu, and they use rudimentary tools and explosives for mining.
According to our understanding, these mines are owned by certain companies and the artisanal miners illegally sneak into these mines, mine gold and then sell it. Hence, it will not be permissible to buy gold from such individuals.

Consider the following Hadith:

An-Nu’man bin Bashir Radiallahu Anhuma reported that the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “What is lawful is clear and what is unlawful is clear, but between them are certain doubtful things which many people do not know. So he who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and his honour blameless. But he who falls into doubtful things falls into that which is unlawful, just as a shepherd who grazes his cattle in the vicinity of a pasture declared prohibited (by the king); he is likely to stray into the pasture. Mind you, every king has a protected pasture and Allah’s involved limits is that which He has declared unlawful. Verily, there is a piece of flesh in the body, if it is healthy, the whole body is healthy, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Verily, it is the heart.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن النعمان بن بشير رضي الله عنهما قال‏:‏ سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ “إن الحلال بين، وإن الحرام بين، وبينهما مشتبهات لا يعلمهن كثير من الناس، فمن اتقى الشبهات، استبرأ لدينه وعرضه، ومن وقع فى الشبهات، وقع فى الحرام، كالراعى يرعى حول الحمى يوشك أن يرتع فيه ألا وإن لكل ملك حمى، ألا وإن حمى الله محارمه، ألا وإن فى الجسد مضغة إذا صلحت صلح الجسد كله، وإذا فسدت فسد الجسد كله‏:‏ ألا وهى القلب” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه)
وغالب الظن عندهم ملحق باليقين
(الأشباه والنظائر لابن نجيم ص: 63)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 25 Dhul Hijjah 1447 / 12 June 2026

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb