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Fatwa CenterTrading in ornamental plants and flowers is permissible
Question
I am an agricultural engineer, and I work in flower and ornamental plant production, and this is my only source of income. Someone told me that trading in cut flowers and ornamental plants is impermissible as they are not edible for human beings; is this correct? Is producing and trading in cut flowers and ornamental plants permissible or not? Is this considered excessiveness and wastefulness?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
It is permissible to produce or sell cut flowers and ornamental plants as long as they are sold for reasonable prices by which the purchaser does not fall into excessiveness and wastefulness, in which case, it is forbidden. This is because selling them in this case is cooperating in sin. Allaah, the Exalted, says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allaah; indeed, Allaah is severe in penalty.} [Quran 5:2]
Although these flowers and ornamental plants are not edible, cultivating them satisfies one of the instinctive needs of human beings, the enjoyment of gazing upon permissible beauty, which produces mental and psychological comfort. Therefore, Allaah, the Exalted, has conferred His blessing, reflected in the beauty of the universe and living creatures, upon us. He says (what means):
• {And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with stars and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils.} [Quran 67:5]
• {And for you in them is [the enjoyment of] beauty when you bring them in [for the evening] and when you send them out [to pasture].} [Quran 16:6]
‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood 
reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "He who has a minute particle's weight of pride in his heart will not enter Paradise." Someone said: "A man is inclined to wear beautiful clothes and shoes." The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Allaah is beautiful and He loves beauty. Pride means ridiculing and rejecting the Truth (out of self-conceit) and despising people." [Muslim]
Allaah Knows best.
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