However, it is considered unethical and can lead to disputes, harm, and exploitation.
27 November 2025 • 488 views
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2️⃣. أن يكون العاقد جائز التصرف
Legal Capacity of the Contracting Parties
The parties must have the legal capacity to transact, meaning they must be:
1. بالغ = mature
2. عاقل = sane
3. حُرّ = free (not enslaved)
4. رشيد = prudent in managing their
affairs.
* These are the four conditions for someone to be deemed جائز التصرف!
EVIDENCES:
The evidence for البلوغ & الرشد is the saying of Allāh ﷻ:
{ وَٱبۡتَلُوا۟ ٱلۡیَتَـٰمَىٰ حَتَّىٰۤ إِذَا بَلَغُوا۟ ٱلنِّكَاحَ فَإِنۡ ءَانَسۡتُم مِّنۡهُمۡ رُشۡدࣰا فَٱدۡفَعُوۤا۟ إِلَیۡهِمۡ أَمۡوَ ٰلَهُمۡۖ وَلَا تَأۡكُلُوهَاۤ إِسۡرَافࣰا وَبِدَارًا أَن یَكۡبَرُوا۟ۚ وَمَن كَانَ غَنِیࣰّا فَلۡیَسۡتَعۡفِفۡۖ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِیرࣰا فَلۡیَأۡكُلۡ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعۡتُمۡ إِلَیۡهِمۡ أَمۡوَ ٰلَهُمۡ فَأَشۡهِدُوا۟ عَلَیۡهِمۡۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِیبࣰا }
"Test ˹the competence of˺ the orphans until they reach a marriageable age. Then if you feel they are capable of sound judgment, return their wealth to them. And do not consume it wastefully and hastily before they grow up ˹to demand it˺. If the guardian is well-off, they should not take compensation; but if the guardian is poor, let them take a reasonable provision. When you give orphans back their property, call in witnesses. And sufficient is Allah as a ˹vigilant˺ Reckoner." [Surah An-Nisāʾ: 6]
Similarly Allāh says:
﴿وَلَا تُؤۡتُوا۟ ٱلسُّفَهَاۤءَ أَمۡوَ ٰلَكُمُ ٱلَّتِی جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ قِیَـٰمࣰا وَٱرۡزُقُوهُمۡ فِیهَا وَٱكۡسُوهُمۡ وَقُولُوا۟ لَهُمۡ قَوۡلࣰا مَّعۡرُوفࣰا﴾
"Do not entrust the foolish ˹among your dependants˺ with your wealth which Allah has made a means of support for you—but feed and clothe them from it, and speak to them kindly." [Surah An-Nisāʾ: 5]
* السفيه (عكس الرشيد): الذي لا يحسن التصرف
As for the slave, then he does not own anything based on the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
((مَنِ ابْتَاعَ عَبْدًا وله مَالٌ، فَمَالُهُ لِلَّذِي بَاعَهُ، إلَّا أنْ يَشْتَرِطَ المُبْتَاعُ)) [رواه البخاري عن ابن عمر]
"Whoever sells a slave who possesses wealth, the wealth belongs to the master unless otherwise stipulated by condition."
NOTES:
- Sales conducted by children below the age of discernment (غير المميز) are deemed INVALID, except in cases involving trivial items permitted by customary practice, such as buying a lollipop.
- Sales of significant value conducted by children who have reached the age of discernment (المميز) are VALID, provided they receive approval from their guardians.
- Sales conducted by slaves are VALID, provided they receive approval from their masters.
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3️⃣. أن يكون مالكا أو قائما مقامه
Ownership or authorisation to act on behalf of the owner
The seller must own the item being sold or have the right to act on behalf of the owner, such as being:
1. الوكيل = an agent
2. الولي = guardian
3. الوصيّ = executor of a will
4. الناظر = trustee
5. الحاكم = the ruler/judge
Selling something one does not own is INVALID, as indicated by the hadith of Ḥakīm ibn Ḥizām (may Allāh be pleased with him):
((لَا تَبِعْ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَكَ)) [أخرجه الخمسة وصححه الألباني]
“Do not sell what you do not own.”
EXCEPTION:
بيع الفُضوليّ
This refers to an unauthorised sale/purchase without the explicit permission or authorisation of the owner. This is sale is suspended (موقوف) and not immediately valid until the rightful owner approves the transaction. Without the owner’s approval, the sale is void and cannot be enforced.
The proof for this is the hadith of ’Urwah ibn Abi Al-Ja’d Al-Bāriqi
أنَّ النَّبيَّ ﷺ أعْطَاهُ دِينَارًا يَشْتَرِي له به شَاةً، فَاشْتَرَى له به شَاتَيْنِ، فَبَاعَ إحْدَاهُما بدِينَارٍ، وجَاءَهُ بدِينَارٍ وشَاةٍ، فَدَعَا له بالبَرَكَةِ في بَيْعِهِ، وكانَ لَوِ اشْتَرَى التُّرَابَ لَرَبِحَ فِيهِ. [رواه البخاري]