RULING ON SELLING GOODS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE
Question:
Malam, concerning e-business: A picture of goods will be shown to a person and the person will choose the product he likes and pays for it, They (Business men) will add some amount before they give the person the product when it arrives (From abroad), They do so because the goods are not available here and most of them do not have enough capital to order the goods, They make order with the money given by their customers.
Answer:
Waalaykumussalam, Such business is prohibited, because it is selling of what is not available to the seller.
Hakim Bn Hizam asked the prophet (PBUH): A person will ask him about goods that he does not have in store, thereafter they will make bargain, then he will go to the market and buy it and give it to the buyer, the prophet PBUH told him that: "Do not sell what you do not have in store" as narrated by Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Imam Ahmad.
Islam prohibits such business because it lacks certainty, dishonest person can easily defraud the buyer and the shown goods may not be exactly found in the market.
Any business transaction that will cause confusion among Muslims is prohibited. Whoever stands firm on the commands of Allah, He will enrich him unexpectedly as He says in Surah Attalaq.
Allah knows best.
Dr Jamilu Yusuf Zarewa
27/10/2019