Fatwa No : 82935
The ruling on buying and selling gold

The ruling on buying and selling gold

What do the esteemed scholars say regarding the following issues:
(1) Within the boundaries of Shari‘ah, what is the proper way to buy and sell gold? Some people claim that due to adulteration (impurities), income from gold trade becomes unlawful (haram) and impermissible.
(2) Is it permissible to use electricity through illegal connections (known as kunda or power theft)? If such a connection is installed inside the house, what is the ruling on performing prayer, eating, and drinking in that house?
(3) If a grocery shop uses stolen electricity (kunda), and the tenant is running the business on rent, is his profit considered halal or not? What if the illegal connection was installed by the landlord himself, or what if the tenant installed it himself — what is the ruling in each case?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

(1) Buying and selling gold is Islamically permissible and valid. A small amount of mixing (alloying) is generally present, as it is necessary for making jewelry and other items — without it, manufacturing is not possible. However, mixing other materials in large quantities with the gold and then charging the buyer the price of pure or high-quality gold without informing them is considered deception and fraud, and it is obligatory to avoid such practices.
(2,3) If the use of the electricity connection (kunda) is with the permission of the relevant electricity company and the proper charges or fees are being paid, then it is permissible according to Shari‘ah. However, if the kunda is illegal and unauthorized, then its use is not permissible. Still, this does not make the food, prayer, or the entire business conducted in such a shop completely haram. However, due to the evil and unlawful nature of such an act, dislike (karahat) is certainly associated with it. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid such illegal practices.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

في الهداية شرح البداية: لأن النقود لا تخلو عن قليل غش عادة لأنها لا تنطبع إلا مع الغش اھ (3/ 85)۔
ففي حاشية ابن عابدين: (قوله ومال عامة) وهو مال بيت المال فإنه مال المسلمين وهو منهم، وإذا احتاج ثبت له الحق فيه بقدر حاجته اھ (4/ 94)۔