Question
Question: A man learned that the price of a commodity had risen, so before the news spread he hastened to buy that commodity from shop owners who did not know of the increase. What is the ruling in such a case?
Answer
The answer—and Allah is the granter of success: The sale and purchase mentioned are valid—this is what is apparent—because it is a sale arising from mutual consent. However, it is not fitting for a believer to engage in it, in light of what faith entails of sincere counsel and loving good for the believers, and because that may engender rancor in the hearts of the sellers toward the buyer who seized the opportunity of their ignorance of the price increase.
If it be said: Why do you not also declare it a prohibited sale?
We say: We did not say so because the sale was by the consent and choice of both seller and buyer; thus it is a valid sale. Allah Most High has said: “And Allah has permitted sale and forbidden usury.” [Al-Baqarah:275] Hence, such a sale is lawful by the explicit text of this verse.
Source: Min Thimār al-ʿIlm wa al-Ḥikmah vol.2
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