Fatwa ID: 09053
Answered by Alimah Hajirah Shah
Question:
In dropshipping, if the dropshipper pays the supplier for postage, and the shipping label is made in the dropshipper’s name, and if a parcel is lost it is the dropshipper’s loss and not the suppliers, then it should be okay, right?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Drop-shipping in and of itself is haraam because at no point does the seller actually own the product. [1] Therefore, one cannot give a precise description of the product quality, quantity, properties, dimensions or functions, etc.
As he does not own the product, he would not have the certainty of when the product would be received by the buyer, hence there is a high chance of misrepresentation and false advertising.
In addition to this, where the product does not have an agreed delivery or acquisition date and possession cannot be guaranteed for the money that is being charged for it, then this would be an impermissible transaction. Hence for these reasons this kind of drop shipping would be haraam. [2]
However, the structure of drop shipping can differ from one model to the next so further details would be required to ascertain the category of transaction that your drop shipping would fall into.
If you could kindly send in a step by step process of how a transaction is completed then we may be able to categories and determine whether this is permissible, alternatively you can request guidance from your local mufti in a face to face meeting. May Allah (SWT) grant you halaal earnings with barakah (blessings) and Aafiyah (holistic wellbeing), ameen.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Alimah Hajirah Shah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالَ ابْنُ رَافِعٍ حَدَّثَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ مَنِ ابْتَاعَ طَعَامًا فَلاَ يَبِعْهُ حَتَّى يَقْبِضَهُ ” . قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَحْسِبُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الطَّعَامِ .
Sahih Muslim 1525
[2]
ولا يصح السلم إلا مؤجلا، ولا يجوز إلا بأجل معلوم
Imam Abu Husayn Ahmad bin Muhammad Al-Baghdaadi Al-Qudoori, Mukhtasar Qudoori, Pg 346, Baab Salam.
ولا يصح السلم عند أبي حنيفة، إلا بسبع شرائط تذكر في العقد: جنس معلوم، ونوع معلوم، وصفة معلومة، ومقدار معلوم، وأجل معلوم، ومعرفة مقدار رأس المال إذا كان مما يتعلق العقد على مقداره، كالمكيل والموزون والمعدود، وتسمية المكان الذي يوفيه فيه إذا كان له حمل ومؤنة
Imam Abu Husayn Ahmad bin Muhammad Al-Baghdaadi Al-Qudoori, Mukhtasar Qudoori, Pg 346-347, Baab Salam.
وكل ما أمكن ضبط صفته ومعرفة مقداره: جاز السلم فيه، وما لا يمكن ضبط صفته ومعرفة مقداره: لا يجوز السلم فيه
Imam Abu Husayn Ahmad bin Muhammad Al-Baghdaadi Al-Qudoori, Mukhtasar Qudoori, Pg 348, Baab Salam.