Raising the price for a buyer if he is non-Muslim

8-3-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
I was wondering if it is permissible according to the Quran or any hadith to inflate prices or charge double on a service due to the fact that the client is a Jew.
jazakallahu khayran

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 ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

In principle, buying and selling and hiring should be done with the consent of the two parties, and it is permissible for the price or cost to be different from one person to another if this happens without any cheating, deceit or lies, and other matters which are forbidden in compensation [exchange] between a Muslim and another Muslim or between a Muslim and a non-Muslim.

Good moral conducts do not change; since telling lies and cheating is forbidden in selling to a Muslim, these are also forbidden with a non-Muslim.

There is nothing in religion that advocates raising the price for a buyer if he is a Jew, however, it is advocated to be generous and kind in selling in all cases, and it is permissible to raise the price or hiring provided there is consent between the two parties; this applies to Muslims between each other, or between a Muslim and a non-Muslim.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 88293.

Allaah Knows best.

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