Ruling on Selling Live Animals by Weight
Selling animals whose trade is permissible—such as camels, cows, goats, etc.—either while they are alive or after slaughter, by weight, is not known to be prohibited in Shari‘ah. This ruling falls under the general directive of the following verse:
«وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا» [Al-Baqarah: 275]
رحمہ (5-المائدة: 96)
“Whereas Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury.”
Another supporting evidence is the statement of the Prophet ﷺ when he was asked: “What form of earning is the most pure?” He ﷺ replied:
“A man’s labor with his own hands and every blessed (accepted and lawful) sale.”
[Musnad Ahmad 4/141; As-Silsilah As-Saheehah, Hadith No. 607]
Moreover, there is no harm in this transaction because it does not involve ignorance (جهالة) or deception (غرر).
والله أعلم
[Ibn Baz: Majmoo‘ Al-Fatawa wa Al-Maqalat 19/39]
① Selling live animals like camels, cows, and goats by weight is permissible.
② This ruling is supported by both Qur’anic evidence and Hadith.
③ The transaction is free from ambiguity and deceit.
④ No Shari‘ah-based prohibition is known regarding this practice.
❖ The Shari‘ah Ruling on Selling Live Animals by Weight ❖
Selling animals whose trade is permissible—such as camels, cows, goats, etc.—either while they are alive or after slaughter, by weight, is not known to be prohibited in Shari‘ah. This ruling falls under the general directive of the following verse:
«وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا» [Al-Baqarah: 275]
رحمہ (5-المائدة: 96)
“Whereas Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury.”
Another supporting evidence is the statement of the Prophet ﷺ when he was asked: “What form of earning is the most pure?” He ﷺ replied:
“A man’s labor with his own hands and every blessed (accepted and lawful) sale.”
[Musnad Ahmad 4/141; As-Silsilah As-Saheehah, Hadith No. 607]
Moreover, there is no harm in this transaction because it does not involve ignorance (جهالة) or deception (غرر).
والله أعلم
[Ibn Baz: Majmoo‘ Al-Fatawa wa Al-Maqalat 19/39]
Key Points Summarized:
① Selling live animals like camels, cows, and goats by weight is permissible.
② This ruling is supported by both Qur’anic evidence and Hadith.
③ The transaction is free from ambiguity and deceit.
④ No Shari‘ah-based prohibition is known regarding this practice.
