Is this Considered to be Cheating?

Ibn Barakah said:

"And I asked him (*) about a man who owns watermelon, or pomegranate, or citron or something similar, and intending to sell it. So he puts the big ones on top of the small ones. Is this considered to be cheating?

He said: "No. This is an adornment of the goods as long as everyone can check it and the purchaser can see it.

I said: "In like manner, the slave girl is decorated by her master for her to be sold. So he orders for her to be depilated, her hair to be combed, her body to be anointed with oil and to apply kohl to her eyes; in order to be seen pretty and beautiful and that her colour is clear.

Is this considered to be changing (in creation)?

He said: "No and Mohammed ibn Mahboob (may Allah grant him mercy) has the same opinion.

I said: "Cheating, what is its characteristic?"

He said: "It is appearance changing and showing things differently. For example, the date-palm, are in two colours and one is better. So the man puts the better on top. Likewise, the grain if he does the same thing or dries it from water or keeps it in the humid place to malt, or if it is sold by weight and he does such act to make it heavier; or the beast, he gives it lots of water to drink (with very less food) just to look fat; or similar acts which are unlawful.

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(*) him: may refer to Sheikh Abu Marwan Suleiman ibn Mohammed ibn Habib, as according to Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabi'ei.

Selected from "Masterpieces of the Righteous Predecessors" by Sheikh Nasser Al Sabi'ei.

Original reference: "At-Taq'yeed".  

Translated by: Bint Ibadh.