Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
If an online store freely allows its customers to cancel the order more than once if there is a drop in price, will the new order that is placed be valid so that the product can be bought at a lower price?
I am asking this question because, most of the online stores request the customers to select a reason while cancelling the order and one of the reasons is a ‘price drop’ or ‘that a cheaper alternative is found somewhere else’, so in such cases, can orders be cancelled, as the stores allow it without charging any cancellation fees?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathābah Institute.
Yes, in the described situation, it is islamicaly permissible to cancel an order after placing it. The new order that is placed is valid as well. This must be done with the approval and consent of both the seller and buyer. – (See: Al-Bināyah, Vol 8, Page 224, Dār Al-Kutub Al-‘Ilmiyyah) [1]
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever agrees with a believer to cancel a transaction, Allāh will forgive their sins [on Judgement Day.” – (Abū Dawūd 3460)[2]
Only Allāh knows best
[1] الإقالة جائزة في البيع بمثل الثمن الأول لا خلاف للأئمة الأربعة رَحِمَهُمُ اللَّهُ في جواز الإقالة ولأن الإقالة رفع العقد والعقد حق المتعاقدين وقد انعقد بتراضيهما فكان لهما رفعه دفعا للحاجة – كتاب البناية شرح الهداية ج٨/ ص٢٢٤ دار الكتب العلمية
[2] مَنْ أَقَالَ مُسْلِمًا أَقَالَهُ اللَّهُ عَثْرَتَهُ – أبو داؤد ٣٤٦٠