[jisee]

If one engages in business selling merchandise during different holidays... such as kids Easter merchandise (bunny clothing, baskets, etc) on Easter, similar merchandise on Christmas, etc, is that considered halal?

We are talking "innocent" merchandise in the sense that it's simple items for kids mostly... no adult items or anything, but definitely not innocent when it comes to the origin and (in)validity of these so-called holidays.

So, what is the correct view on this? Would income earned from sale of such merchandise be considered halal, or not?

[jisee]

Anyone?

[BruceCroucshs]

All praises are due to Allah, peace and blessings upon the Prophet.

My brother, I am not a faqih and cannot issue a fatwa, but we laymen can develop a functional body of knowledge which enables us to engage in daily life. Buying and selling items of holy celebrations of other religions, "shirk" practices- practices of associating others with Allah- is forbidden.

One can simply scroll through the numerous fatawa websites to find the specific fatwa on this.

There is a 'test' for Muslim businessmen: very often engaging in haram business practices is profittable. I recall a Muslim employer who I briefly worked for as a youth. He sold clothes to nonMuslim women in downtown Washington DC. His most profittable day was Friday, at lunch hour no less.

As well, many Muslims own corner stores and gas stations in poor neighborhoods in American cities. They have found that selling lottery tickets and liquor are their most profittable products- except they are also haram/forbiden. And they present the WRONG message about Muslims and Islam to poor, otherwise ignorant Muslims.


The issue is clearly addressed in the ahadith and fiqh as forbidden:

First, the Usul ul Fiqh principle applies:

That that leads to the obligatory is itself obligatory, and that that leads to the forbidden is itself forbidden.

It is not permissible to make images of animate beings, whether humans, birds or animals. If that is a three-dimensional image it is even more forbidden.

On this basis, it is not permissible to sell any of these figures made of ceramic etc., if they are of this nature. But if they are images of inanimate things such as mountains and other natural scenes, there is nothing wrong with making them and selling them.

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 13/73: “Buying and selling images of animate beings is haraam because it was narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Allaah and His Messenger have forbidden the sale of alcohol, dead meat, pork and idols.’ (Agreed upon). That is because it may lead to exaggeration concerning the people depicted, as happened among the people of Nooh… and because of many other texts which also state that it is haraam to make images and to use images of animate beings.”



It is not permissible for a Muslim to take part in the festivals of the kuffaar, such as Christmas and Easter, or to sell the things that will help them in that, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression”

[al-Maa'idah 5:2]



Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When Allaah forbids a thing, He also forbids its price.” (Narrated by Ahmad, no. 2564; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5107). And because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed alcohol and the one who drinks it, the one who sells it, the one who buys it, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who consumes its price, the one who squeezes out the juice and the one for whom it is squeezed out.” (narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1295; Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 1041).




And that that is forbidden for Muslims is also forbidden to kufar unless Allah (SWT) has made an exception for them. As shirk is forbidden for them, a Muslim cannot buy, sell, of facilitate shirk in any way for them- even a Muslim taxi driver cannot drive a kafir to a Easter celebration if he knows of it, as the worship o f prophet Isa (as) as the son of God is forbidden.

I hopes this helps, and may Allah reward you for avoiding the haram and standing up for the Good!

And Allah knows best.

So this issue

[Frdsdx26]

Fatawa al Lajna does not represent Sunni Islam. Its pseudo salafi. So its better to get the complete overview of the whole 1400yrs of Sunni islam instead of selective mining method of salafis.

Secondly, if the usul you look is used in such manner then it would mean that protection and freedom of religion guaranteed to non-Muslim under Islam would be equivalent to giving freedom and protecting to Kufr and hence forbidden, which is a contridiction between the usul and what is established in Islam.

[Beragagnu]

Wouldn't the same logic apply as selling other haraam objects, such as lottery tickets or alcohol?