Is it Permissible to Sell Gaming Consoles?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Is it permissible to sell gaming consoles, considering what the main purpose of these consoles is?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I hope you are in good health and faith.
It is permissible to sell gaming consoles, considering that they are used mostly for games that have permissible content. However, it would be better to avoid it.
The General Principle
The console itself is permissible to sell and has multiple uses. The seller is not responsible for how the buyer uses it — whether for lawful or unlawful content — nor for any other use the buyer makes of it. Items with multiple uses are generally permissible unless specific evidence prohibits them.
Allah Most High says, “Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness, and do not cooperate in sin and transgression. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is severe in punishment.” [Quran 5:2]
The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear, and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus, he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself regarding his religion and his honor, but he who falls into doubtful matters (eventually) falls into that which is unlawful.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Contributing to Sin: Three Degrees
The Hanafi school distinguishes between three degrees of contributing to a possible sin, each carrying a different ruling.
The first is a direct cause of sin (sabab qarib muharrik ila al-masiya), where one’s action directly brings about the sin, such as giving someone alcohol to drink. This is disliked to the point of prohibition (makruh tahrimi).
The second is a direct but non-causative connection (sabab qarib ghayr muharrik ila al-masiya), where one’s action is connected to the sin but does not itself bring it about. This carries a milder dislike (makruh tanzihi).
The third is an indirect or remote cause (sabab ba‘id), where one’s action is only a distant link to a possible future sin. Selling a gaming console that could be used for permissible or impermissible games falls into this third category. It is permissible, though better to avoid. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Shafi, Jawahir al-Fiqh]
The Broader Principle
The broader Islamic principle is to directly avoid assisting in sin while recognizing that lawful items with multiple uses remain lawful to buy and sell. However, one should seek to sell something that is totally permissible and has a greater impact and benefit to all.
Know the Ruling of Allah
It is important to apply this vital principle that one should not engage in any activity without knowing the ruling of Allah regarding it, as mentioned in Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiya.
So it is essential that anyone in business and serious about Allah and the Last Day learn the essentials of the fiqh of commerce and trade, and the halal and haram related to these.
And Allah knows best.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Related Answers
- Is Paying for Packs in a Video Game Gambling?
- Do I Need to Sell or Throw Away My Impermissible Video Games?
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Currently, he resides in the UK with his wife and is interested in reading and gardening.
