Q: We are currently experiencing a fuel shortage in the country. This has resulted in long queues at the petrol stations. I am, through my network of contacts able to acquire fuel in fairly good quantities which are in excess of my requirement. My question is, am I allowed to sell the extra fuel I get at a higher prices then the pumps as I am saving the people from having to spend time in lengthy queues for this fuel? The current pump price in K 290 and I am selling at a mutually agreed upon price of K 370. Would this be construed as exploitative?
A: If they are quite comfortable in buying the petrol at a higher price, then it is permissible though it is better to be considerate.
( و ) اعلم أنه ( لا رد بغبن فاحش ) هو ما لا يدخل تحت تقويم المقومين ( في ظاهر الرواية ) وبه أفتى بعضهم مطلقا كما في القنية
ثم رقم وقال ( ويفتى بالرد ) رفقا بالناس وعليه أكثر روايات المضاربة وبه يفتى ثم رقم وقال ( إن غره ) أي غر المشتري البائع أو بالعكس أو غره الدلال فله الرد ( وإلا لا ) وبه أفتى صدر الإسلام وغيره (الدر المختار5/142)
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)