Listing Products in Store/Online Market That Sells Offensive Products to Muslims

8-2-2023 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu alaikum,Is it permissible to listing my product in a store/online marketplace that also sells an offensive product to Muslims?For example, if that online marketplace also sells anti-Muslims, insulted Muslims books from famous atheist author, any religion preachers, and some of their book also become the bestseller and that marketplace.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is permissible to sell a halal (lawful) product either through a shop (market) or an online store that sells some forbidden items, as long as the market is not dedicated to selling forbidden items. Scholars have stated that it is permissible to deal with the non-Muslims in buying and selling.

Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhari by Ibn Battal  reads: “Buying and selling from non-muslims are permissible, except the people who are at war [with Muslims], then we do not sell to them what they can use to destroy the Muslims; i.e., equipment and weapons, nor what they can use to strengthen themselves against the Muslims.” [End of quote]

Al-Qurtubi said in Al-Mufhim lima Ashkala min Talkhees Kitab Muslim: “As for the people of war: it is permissible to deal with them and sell to them everything that is permissible for us to buy and own. It is acceptable to sell to them all products, and animals, as long as it is not harmful to Muslims or what they need with the exception of war machines and its equipment, and whatever is feared that they would strengthen them over the Muslims; so nothing of this kind can be sold to them.” [End of quote]

However, if it is possible to sell through a shop (or market) that is devoid of selling what is forbidden, then it is more appropriate to do so.

Allah knows best.