assalamu aleikum.
I stay in Malaysia. We have one website which is similar to Amazon. I want to do business based on dropshipping. My plan: To upload a product I want to sell. When order will come, I go to buy this product and then ship it to the customer.
Many people already asked this question, but no one explains how do such companies work.
Better if we know before answer about Amazon or similar websites’ system to make sure that question will be right and clear:
1. Customer chooses the product.
2. He place the order from the seller.
3. The money is going to AMAZON, not to the seller.
4. The seller ships out the product.
5. Once the customer Receives the order and he clicks in his account that this product he received, only after this the money going to the seller.
I repeat ONLY after the customer received the order, money is going to Seller.
So is this way of dropshipping is halal or haram? JazakumuLLahuhairon
Answer
Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
The general principle is that one cannot sell that which one does not own. However, Shariah has permitted a concept called Salam. For this to be permissible, a few laws will have to be adhered to:
- The item advertised will have to be something which can be measured or weighed (or similar),
- The seller will have to clearly mention that he does not have the product in his possession, but rather he will procure it once payment is made,
- The seller will have to give a complete description of the item. The customer should understand fully what he is buying, and nothing should be vague.
- The website will be regarded as your agent for taking payment. (The fact that the seller is not getting the money, and that the money is going to a third party makes it more intricate)
- The seller will appoint a representative to take possession of the item on his behalf, before the item reaches the customer. Someone at the supplier, or the courier company collecting the item and delivering to the customer could also be made an agent.
If the afore-mentioned five conditions are not fulfilled, the sale will not be valid. If these conditions are observed, than the transactions will be valid.
And Allaah Ta’aala knows best
Wassalaam,
Ismail Moosa (Mufti)
References
وَأَمَّا نَهْيُهُ عَنْ بَيْعِ مَا لَمْ يَقْبِضْ يَعْنِي فِي الْمَنْقُولَاتِ، وَأَمَّا نَهْيُهُ عَنْ بَيْعِ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ فَهُوَ أَنْ يَبِيعَ مَا لَيْسَ فِي مِلْكِهِ، ثُمَّ مَلَكَهُ بِوَجْهٍ مِنْ الْوُجُوهِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَجُوزُ إلَّا فِي السَّلَمِ فَإِنَّهُ رُخِّصَ فِيهِ (الجوهرة النيرة على مختصر القدوري – 1 / 203)
“ولا يصح السلم حتى يقبض رأس المال قبل أن يفارقه فيه” أما إذا كان من النقود فلأنه افتراق عن دين بدين، وقد “نهى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الكالئ بالكالئ وإن كان عينا”، فلأن السلم أخذ عاجل بآجل، إذ الإسلام والإسلاف ينبئان عن التعجيل فلا بد من قبض أحد العوضين ليتحقق معنى الاسم، ولأنه لا بد من تسليم رأس المال ليتقلب المسلم إليه فيه فيقدر على التسليم) الهداية في شرح بداية المبتدي – 3/ 74(
للسلم شرائط كثيرة. أحدها: بيان جنس المسلم فيه كقولنا تمر. والثاني: بيان نوعه كقولنا فارسي أو ما أشبهه. والثالث: بيان صفته كقولنا جيد أو ردي. الرابع: بيان قدره في المكيلات بالكيل والموزونات بالوزن والمعدودات بالعدد….. (التاتارخانية – 9 /332)
و منها : ان يكون مقبوضا في مجلس السلم لأن المسلم فيه دين و الإفتراق لا عن قبض رأس المال يكون افتراقا عن دين بدين و أنه منهي عنه لما روي أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم : [ نهى عن بيع الكالىء بالكالىء ] أي النسيئة بالنسيئة (بدائع الصنائع – 4/ 433)