Buying seized goods by auction

The question:

Is it permissible to buy the goods that the court seizes and sells by auction?

The answer:

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

If what the court seizes is the equipment of the companies that go bankrupt or which are indebted, and it aims behind this to pay the debts the indebted people owe to the debtors; in this case, it seems permissible to buy the goods, as this is done to keep the rights and do justice.

As for the people’s goods and merchandizes that the customs seize, because they can not pay the imposed taxes, or that the merchandizes are prohibited by the authorities under the pretext of [protecting] the interests of the country and people, though allowed by the sharia; in this case, it seems that it is not permissible to buy these goods unless their owner agree that or are paid for them⁽1⁾.

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Algiers, Jumâda 11^th, 1428H.
Corresponding to: May 28^th, 2007.

(1) Remark: you can read the ruling regarding selling by auction or secret selling in the fatwa entitled: “Selling fish by auction”, number 102.