8096
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27 / 06 / 2026
Payment of the Deposit to Buy a House
A person wants to buy a house and has agreed with the seller that he will buy the house. He left a little money with the seller and promised that he would not take back the money he left with the seller if he changed his mind about buying the house, meaning if no contract was made between them. Is the money left by the buyer permissible for the seller?
Answer
I say, and with God's help: This is the issue of selling the earnest money, and it is only permissible to issue a fatwa allowing it if there is an apparent harm related to withdrawing from the contract. In that case, it is possible to follow the Hanbali school of thought regarding its validity, and God knows best.
