Fatwa ID: 08572

Written by Mufti Sarfraz Mohammad

Question:

If Zaid ordered many books from Amr in Pakistan. Amr sent the books through a shipping company (Amr hired the company but Zaid paid the shipping fee). Then Amr claims that the shipping company said the books are lost and they are not taking any responsibility because of no insurance coverage. Amr is refusing to take responsibility too.

Shar’an must Amr refund Zaid for the books?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

In the Hanafi fiqh, the seller remains Accountable until the buyer takes possession.Handing goods to a transport company doesn’t count as possession unless the company is the buyer’s agent.Since Amr hired the company, it is presumed to be his agent even if Zaid paid the fee unless clear agreement states otherwise.

If the goods are lost before the buyer takes qabd (possession) and no liability was transferred, the seller (Amr) is responsible and must refund the buyer.

References:

هَلَكَ عَلَى الْبَائِعِ كَذَا فِي الْخُلَاصَةِ رَجُلٌ اشْتَرَى بَقَرَةً فَقَالَ لِلْبَائِعِ سُقْهَا إلَى مَنْزِلِك حَتَّى أَجِيءَ خَلْفَك إلَى مَنْزِلِك وَأَسُوقَهَا إلَى مَنْزِلِي فَمَاتَتْ الْبَقَرَةُ فِي يَدِ الْبَائِعِ فَإِنَّهَا تَهْلِكُ مِنْ مَالِ الْبَائِعِ فَإِنْ ادَّعَى الْبَائِعُ تَسْلِيمَ الْبَقَرَةِ كَانَ الْقَوْلُ قَوْلَ الْمُشْتَرِي مَعَ يَمِينِهِ.

ص20 – كتاب الفتاوى العالمكيرية الفتاوى الهندية – الفصل الثاني في تسليم المبيع وفيما يكون قبضا وفيما لا يكون قبضا – المكتبة الشاملة

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Mufti Sarfraz Mohammad

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham