Shar‘i Ruling on Buying and Selling Property Vowed to Other than Allah
Source: Fatāwā Rashidiyyah, p. 507
❖ Question:
A polytheist who not only worships idols but has others worship him as well possesses animals (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) that have been vowed for other than Allah (nadhar li-ghayrillāh). He sustains himself by selling such animals and fulfills his worldly needs.
One Muslim regularly buys these vowed animals from him, resells them in the market, and continues his trade in this way.
What is the ruling of Sharī‘ah regarding the buying and selling of such vowed property?
A local scholar answered that since the polytheist purchased the animals with his own money, they are his property. The principle in Sharī‘ah is permissibility unless there is evidence of prohibition. The sin lies with the polytheist, not the Muslim buyer. Is this fatwa correct?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
✿ The Ruling
- The purchase, sale, and consumption of property vowed to other than Allah is harām and impermissible.
- This falls under the prohibition of “uḥilla bihi li-ghayrillāh” (that which is dedicated to other than Allah).
- In the age of Jāhiliyyah, animals were often dedicated to idols, sometimes slaughtered in their names, or merely vowed and left at shrines.
- The Qur’an declared all such practices invalid, and any benefit derived from property vowed to other than Allah is also impermissible.
✿ Clarification
- If the seller is truly selling animals vowed to other than Allah, then purchasing them is not permissible.
- Normally, property that has been vowed to shrines, idols, or graves does not circulate in the market, as people regard it as belonging to the shrine. If it is being sold, that indicates the vow itself has been abandoned.
- Therefore:
◈ Buying animals actually vowed to other than Allah is impermissible.
◈ But if they are the seller’s personal property and not vowed, then it is permissible to trade with him.
✿ Precedent from the Sunnah
It is authentically established that the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions (RA) used to buy property and goods from polytheists, so long as the items were lawful in themselves.
Conclusion:- Animals or property truly vowed to other than Allah → buying, selling, and using them is harām.
- The polytheist’s personal property not vowed to shrines → permissible to trade, as the Prophet ﷺ himself engaged in such transactions.
