[Q 288] Buying Cheap Products And Selling For Higher Price

Question

My question is, is it allowed to have an Amazon business where you buy items cheap and sell on Amazon for Higher?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

Generally, it is correct that you buy items cheaply and sell them at a higher price. This is how trade is commonly conducted worldwide. However, Islam has stipulated conditions for this; one crucial condition is that you must take possession of the item before selling it. You must either take possession yourself or through a representative. If you purchase an item and sell it before taking possession, it is not permissible. This is prohibited in a Hadith. Typically, people do not consider this aspect when trading on online platforms like Amazon. Therefore, if you are asking about conducting business on Amazon in this manner, it is not permissible. However, if you fulfill all conditions and trade such that you buy cheap and sell at a higher price, then it is permissible.

And Allah knows best.

Hadith: In Sahih Muslim, it is stated:

”قال رسول اللہ صلى اللہ عليه وسلم: من ابتاع طعاما فلا يبعه حتى يقبضه، قال ابن عباس: وأحسب كل شيء بمنزلة الطعام“

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Whoever buys food should not sell it until he takes possession of it. Ibn Abbas said: I think all things are like food (i.e., the same rule applies to other items).”

(Sahih Muslim, , Volume 2, Page 5, Published in Karachi)

Another Hadith states:

نهى رسول اللہ صلى اللہ عليه وسلم ۔۔۔عن بيع ما لم يقبض

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, prohibited selling something before taking possession of it.”

(Al-Mu’jam al-Awsat, Volume 2, Page 153, Published in Cairo)

Al-Sarkhasi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:

وكذلك ما سوى الطعام من المنقولات لا يجوز بيعه قبل القبض عندنا

Similarly, other than food, no movable goods are permissible to sell before taking possession according to us.”

(Al-Mabsut al-Sarkhasi, , Volume 13, Page 10, Published in Quetta)

Answered by: Mufti Sajid Attari

 Translated answer

Date: 7th May 2024

Leave a Reply