What is the ruling on raising fuel prices by more than half the purchase price during times of crisis, and is it permissible to act as an intermediary between the seller and the buyer in this situation for a percentage of the profits?
The Prophet supplicated for the lenient merchant, and forbade the hoarding of essential goods and exploiting people's needs. Hoarding is withholding goods during high prices to sell them for more when the need intensifies, and it is forbidden. Ibn Hajar al-Haytami considered it one of the major sins. As for one who does not hoard, it is not forbidden for him to profit by more than the purchase price, but he should not be greedy. If the state prices a specific commodity due to people's needs, then adherence to that pricing is obligatory. Brokerage between a non-hoarding seller and a buyer for a known commission is permissible. However, brokerage for a hoarder or cooperating with him in his sin is not permissible.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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