Buying permissible things from firms that engage in forbidden activities

16-7-2012 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaam alaikum, My question related to financial transactions: specifically, what is the ruling regarding paying money on a recurring basis (like a contract) to a firm for a permissible service (or buying something permissible from that firm), when, however, the firm also engages in haram or even kufr activities, like predicting the future or making astrology calendars? Related, what if the firm advertises in such a way that it ascribes powers to itself like shirk: there is a company that uses the slogan "rule the air" and others that make it seem as if they are all-powerfull, when only Allaah is all powerful. Can we buy from these firms? Jazakallaah khayran and may Allaah reward you.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It is permissible to deal with those companies in what is permissible. The fact that those companies may engage in forbidden transactions, does not make it forbidden to deal with them as the Prophet used to deal with the Jews and purchase from them while they used to consume Riba and earn ill-gotten money.

As regards the expression which you mentioned “rule the air”, it appears that it is just exaggeration; as they control the air in what people are usually able to control it, and not controlling the universe and its air. It might be that this is what is meant by it.

In any case, even if the slogans involve disbelief, it is permissible to deal with a non-Muslim in what is permissible.

Allaah Knows best.