Charging a price for soil when selling grain

Question

Traders have this custom: when they buy goods from someone, then, since grain usually contains soil, in return for it — over and above each maund (a unit of weight, ≈ 37 kg) of grain, for example, one kilogram of grain. When they sell to another, however, they give nothing in return for the soil; and if the buyer asks for it, the trader says: “This is the custom of traders, so you will get nothing in return for the soil.” The question is: is it permissible for traders to deal in this way or not?

Answer

This is unfair; however, if both parties agree to it, the sale will be valid, since there is nothing that vitiates it (لعدم المفسد).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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