Selling Agarbatti to stores
Question
There are a large variety of assorted fragrances of Agarbatti. Some of the variants have dubious names like:
- Hamba Tokoloshe
- Good Luck
- Money Drawing
- Erotica
Please inform me if I am allowed to sell these products?
Answer
Agarbatti, also known as incense sticks, is used as a fragrance in homes and businesses, hence there is no problem in selling them or using them. However, the labelling on the product is tantamount to deception, as Agarbatti does not have the ability of removing any Tokloshe, or drawing good luck, or bringing money, etc. You should therefore inform your customers that the Agarbatti has been labelled with these titles but there is no reality to it, and they should either have the name removed by scratching it off, or by putting a label over them. By doing so, neither will your customer be deceived nor the end user. In conclusion, it will be permissible to trade in the product once the matter is clarified with your customer.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
حَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الْكَلْبِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَنْ جُمَيْعٍ أَوْ أَبِي جُمَيْعٍ، عَنْ خَالِهِ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ بْنِ نِيَارٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَأَى طَعَامًا فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فِيهِ فَرَأَى غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ: لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ غَشَّنَا (مسند احمد)
- Answered by
- Maulana Ahmed Saeed
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Darul Ifta Ibn Masood. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, ask the issuing Darul Ifta directly.