Question 717: Is there a specific percentage for the selling price of goods in narrations, or is it based on the market norm?

273 13 Feb 2021
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✅Answer:

1 الحسين بن عبداللَّه بن ضمرة عن أبيه عن جده عن علي بن أَبي طالب أَنه قال: رَفَع الْحَدِيثَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ مَرَّ بِالْمُحْتَكِرِينَ فَأَمَرَ بِحُكْرَتِهِمْ أَنْ تُخْرَجَ إِلَى بُطُونِ الْأَسْوَاقِ و حَيْثُ تَنْظُرُ الْأَبْصَارُ إِلَيْهَا فَقِيلَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ لَوْ قَوَّمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّه حَتَّى عُرِفَ الْغَضَبُ فِي وَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ أَنَا أُقَوِّمُ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّمَا السِّعْرُ إِلَى اللَّهِ يَرْفَعُهُ إِذَا شَاءَ وَ يَخْفِضُهُ إِذَا شَاءَ

📚 Al-Tahdhib, Vol. 7, p. 161

Ali (peace be upon him) said: 'The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) passed by the hoarders and commanded that the hoarded goods be brought to the heart of the markets so that eyes could see them.'

Then it was said to him: 'Would that you had set a price for them!' So the Prophet became angry, such that it was apparent on his face, and he said: 'Should I set a price for them?! Indeed, the price is in the hands of Allah. Whenever He wills, He raises it, and whenever He wills, He lowers it!'

2 محمد بن علي بن الحسين قال: قِيلَ لِلنَّبِيِّ لَوْ سَعَّرْتَ لَنَا سِعْراً فَإِنَّ الْأَسْعَارَ تَزِيدُ وَ تَنْقُصُ فَقَال مَا كُنْتُ لِأَلْقَى اللَّهَ بِبِدْعَةٍ لَمْ يُحَدِّثْ إِلَيَّ فِيهَا شَيْئاً فَدَعُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ يَأْكُلْ بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ

📚 Al-Tawhid, p. 388, hadith 33

Sheikh Saduq says: It was said to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): 'Would that you had set a price for us, for indeed prices rise and fall!'

The Prophet said: 'I will not meet Allah with an innovation about which nothing has been told to me! Leave the servants of Allah to eat from one another (for their sustenance)!'

3 أَبِي حمزة الثمالي قال: ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْن غَلَاءُ السِّعْرِ فَقَالَ وَ مَا عَلَيَّ مِنْ غَلَائِهِ إِنْ غَلَا فَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ رَخُصَ فَهُوَ عَلَيْه

📚 Faqih, Vol. 3, p. 267

Abu Hamza says: The high prices were mentioned in the presence of Imam Al-Sajjad (peace be upon him). So he said: 'What does its high price have to do with me?! If it becomes expensive, it is up to Him, and if it becomes cheap, it is also up to Him (meaning all is in the hands of Allah)!'

4 عن أَبِي عبداللَّه قَال: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَكَّلَ بِالسِّعْرِ مَلَكاً فَلَنْ يَغْلُوَ مِنْ قِلَّةٍ وَ لَنْ يَرْخُصَ مِنْ كَثْرَة

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 162

Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: 'Indeed, Allah, the Almighty and Glorious, has appointed an angel over prices, so it does not become expensive due to a lack of goods, and it does not become cheap due to an abundance of them!'

5 عن أبي عبداللَّه قال: غَبْنُ الْمُسْتَرْسِلِ سُحْتٌ

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 153

Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: 'Cheating a person who trusts you is 'suht' (illicit gain)!'

6 عن علي بن الحسين قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَكَّلَ بِالسِّعْرِ مَلَكاً يُدَبِّرُهُ بِأَمْرِهِ

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 163

Imam Al-Sajjad (peace be upon him) said: 'Indeed, Allah, the Almighty and Glorious, has appointed an angel over prices to manage them by divine command!'

✅ Various narrative evidences, some of which have been mentioned, show that no specific percentage has been determined for the selling price. Rather, prices are determined by Allah, the Almighty and Glorious, and placed within the market, and every person is allowed to sell their goods according to their usual market price, even if they bought them for a small price. Likewise, if the price of that good decreases in the market, they do not have the right to sell it for more than the usual market price just because they bought it at a high price.

It is clear that setting a selling price by officials is an innovation, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) did not agree to set the prices of goods in the market and even became severely angry at this request.

Also, the criterion for determining the option of 'ghabn' (deception due to an unfair price) is this usual market price, and its rulings are available in the narrations.

✅ And as for a narration in praise of selling to a religious brother at the purchase price:

7 عن مُيَسِّرقال: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عبدالله إِنَّ عَامَّةَ مَنْ يَأْتِينِي إِخْوَانِي فَحُدَّ لِي مِنْ مُعَامَلَتِهِمْ مَا لَا أَجُوزُهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ فَقَالَ إِنْ وَلَّيْتَ أَخَاكَ فَحَسَنٌ وَ إِلَّا فَبِعْهُ بَيْعَ الْبَصِيرِ الْمُدَاقِّ

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 153

Muyassar says: 'I said to Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him): 'The majority of those who come to me are my religious brothers, so set a limit for me in dealing with them that I do not exceed.' The Imam said: 'If you leave it to your brother (meaning, if you sell it at the purchase price), that is very good and excellent!'

And if not, you can deal with him like a precise and accurate person in accounts!'

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

First month prayer:

https://feghh14.com/en/99

اَللّهُمَّ عَجِّل لِوَلیِّکَ الفَرَجَ وَ العافیَةَ وَ النَّصرَ

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Three days of fasting in a month:

https://feghh14.com/en/989