❖ Islamic Ruling on Buying and Selling Honey Produced from Sugar ❖
Ruling on the Sale of Honey Produced by Bees Fed on Sugar
There is no harm in buying or selling honey that has been produced by bees which are fed on sugar. However, if the quality of such honey differs from that of naturally produced honey, then it is obligatory for the seller to clearly inform the buyer that this honey has been produced from sugar-fed bees. This is to avoid any form of deception, which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ strongly condemned:
«من غش فليس منا» [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 102/164]
“Whoever deceives is not from among us.”
Failing to disclose this may also result in the loss of barakah (blessing) in the transaction, as the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The buyer and the seller have the option (to cancel the transaction) as long as they have not separated. If they are truthful and clear (about the product), their sale will be blessed. But if they lie and conceal (the defects), the blessing of their sale will be erased.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Hadith No. 2079; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1532/47]
Hence, a person must deal with others in truth and transparency, just as he would like others to deal with him. This reflects the true essence of faith, as the Prophet ﷺ said:
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Hadith No. 13; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 145/71]
He ﷺ also said:
“Whoever wishes to be saved from the Hellfire and admitted into Paradise, let his death come while he believes in Allah and the Last Day, and let him treat people in the same way he would like to be treated by them.”
[Sunan an-Nasā’ī, Hadith No. 4191; Sunan Ibn Mājah, Hadith No. 3956]
[Ibn ʿUthaymīn: Nūr ʿAlā ad-Darb: 9/230]
Key Points Summarized:
① Selling honey produced from sugar-fed bees is permissible in Islam.
② If the honey is inferior in quality, it must be clearly disclosed to the buyer.
③ Concealing this fact is considered deception, which is condemned in Islam.
④ Transparency and honesty in transactions lead to barakah.
⑤ True faith includes wanting for others what one wants for oneself.
