Buying and selling offerings

Question

Question: (1) Hindus perform a meritorious deed for Brahmins in the name of Ram and give charity — they give cloth or an animal. Is it permissible for Muslims to buy that animal or cloth or not? (2) Muslims or Hindus who make offerings, that is, offer cloth or an animal in the name of a Muslim spiritual guide — is it permissible to buy that thing or not? (3) Hindus offer an animal or cloth in the name of a goddess or an idol — is this permissible for Muslims or not?

Answer

(1) It is permissible. (2) That goat, cloth and so on are the property of the one who made the offering; they have not entered anyone else’s ownership. So if one buys from the original owner, it is valid; and buying it from someone else — a dervish and the like who takes the offerings — is not valid.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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