Q: I have a small grocery and I sent someone to buy for me some foodstuff and juices from one of the large traders. Included in my order was a large box that contained twelve small cartons on which was written: “Try your Luck.” Each one of them contained candy and children’s toys, such as a car, a plane, a fan, and a train. They were all children’s toys and each carton had a different toy inside it. One day, one the neighbors came and told the workers that this is Haram (prohibited) and that it is not permissible to sell these, because the cartons that contain the candies and toys are sealed, and you cannot see what is inside them. Bear in mind that this method is practiced in all shops and markets, and that they are made by companies under supervision. When I heard this, I stopped buying these toys, until I could ask Your Eminence about their permissibility, so that I will not violate my religion. Please advise whether dealing in this kind of candy and children’s toys is Haram or permissible, so we all may benefit.



A: This type of product, which is sealed inside a carton and sold without knowing what type of children’s toy or other item is inside the carton, is a Majhul sale (sale of the unknown), which lacks the necessary condition of knowing the item being sold either through seeing it or knowing its characteristics. Therefore, it is not permissible to deal in this type of product, where the item being sold is not known, either by sight or by description. This is one type of Gharar sale (uncertain sale) which is prohibited, based on the Hadith reported from Abu Hurayrah
(Part No. 13; Page No. 86)


رضي الله عنه, which stated that The Prophetﷺ forbade Gharar sale. (Related by Muslim)


May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!


Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’