Is it permissible for a person to disconnect the odometer or register the vehicle late (bought in 1998, registered in 1999) so that he will fetch a higher price on the vehicle when it will be sold.

Apart from other aspects of evaluating a motor vehicle, the fundamental aspects are:

the model of the vehicle; and

mileage of the vehicle.

The later the model the higher the value. Similarly, a car with a lower mileage will have a better value than another identical car with a much higher mileage. To deliberately register a vehicle from its original model to a later model, and to disconnect the odometer are acts of deception which is strictly prohibited in the Shariáh.

Hadhrat Abu Hurayra (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) prohibited the transaction of deception. (Mishkãt pg. 247; Qadeemi). Hadhrat Abu Hurayra (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) also narrates that once Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) passed by a person selling grain. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) put his hand inside the heap and found the grains which were on the inside to be wet. He enquired from the owner the reason of the grains being