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Fatwa CenterRulings of Selling Items That Have Prohibited Uses
Question
What is the ruling on selling gaming PCs optimized for games? While they can be used for many things, most buyers will likely use them for gaming, possibly involving haram content. Am I sinful for selling them, or is it permissible since I don’t know exactly how the buyer will use it? Is it halal but not advised, or totally haram due to likely misuse? I want to know if this side income is permissible in Islam.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Selling computers is permissible, and the profit made from selling it is permissible unless the seller knows that the buyer intends to use it for forbidden purposes, or it is predominantly used for forbidden purposes; in which case it is not permissible to sell it. As for the mere suspicion that the buyer will use the commodity for forbidden purposes; it does not result in the prohibition of selling, but some jurists are of the opinion that selling is disliked in this case.
Ibn Qudamah 
stated in al-Mughni: “…If this is proven, then the sale is prohibited and invalid when the seller is aware of the buyer’s intent, either through what he says, or through specific evidence and signs that indicate that. But if the matter is uncertain, such as when the buyer is unaware of the status of the one who purchases it, or someone who produces both vinegar and wine (from grapes), and he does not say anything indicating that he intends to produce wine, then the sale is permissible.” [End quote]
It is stated in Fath al-Wahhab bi Sharh Manhaj al-Tullab (authored by Imam Zakariyya al-Ansari ): “The sale of what is like ripe dates, such as grapes, to someone who will use them to make alcohol, if this is known or predominantly thought, is prohibited. But if it is merely doubted or imagined that he might do so, then selling to him is Makrooh (disliked).” [End quote]
Ash-Shawkani said in Al-Fath ar-Rabbani: “It is evident from various pieces of evidence that it is prohibited to sell anything whose benefit is solely restricted to a forbidden use, and for which no purpose can be intended other than that which is prohibited. The same ruling applies if the benefit is not exclusive to the prohibited use, but it is predominantly used for a prohibited one, or even if it is not predominantly used for a prohibited use, but the sale is made with the intention of using it for something prohibited. Therefore, any sale that falls under one of these three cases is forbidden; and whatever falls outside of them, its sale is permissible.” [End quote]
You should also be aware that the money earned from selling something permissible which is used for a prohibited purpose is considered unlawful by some scholars, while the majority of scholars view it as permissible. It is stated in the Kuwaiti Fiqh Encyclopedia: “The ruling regarding the validity or invalidity of selling something intended for a prohibited act: The majority of scholars (Hanafis, Malikis, and Shafi’is), and this is also probably a view within the Hanbali school, hold that the sale is valid, as none of the pillars (essential elements) or conditions of the contract are missing.” [End quote]
Allah knows best.
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