Author: jknfatawa1

                                                                       21^st November 2025

Question: I want to set up a dropshipping business; however, I have been informed that Islamicaly it is not permissible. Please clarify if in the Shari’ah, it is permissible or not?

 الجواب حامداً و مصلياً

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

Answer

Regarding your query, the current dropshipping method does not comply with Shari’ah principles and therefore, not permissible. The reasons are outlined below, but first, here’s how the process works. Dropshipping is an online retail model in which a seller offers products to customers without owning any inventory. The dropshipper creates an online retail store, markets products on his website and decides the prices. His account is connected to one or more suppliers who handle storage and stock management. When a customer places an order and pays in full on the website, the supplier receives the order, packages the product and ships it directly to the customer. Both the package details and invoice display the seller’s information, not that of the supplier. The dropshipper serves as the primary contact for customers, collects payments, remits a portion to the supplier and retains the remainder as profit. Dropshipping has become a growing market for convenience as it eliminates many retail challenges such as buying, storing and shipping inventory. All what the dropshipper does is to manage customer enquiries, customer satisfaction and ensuring the smooth running of the sale.[1]

We learn that the dropshipper acts as an independent retailer who decides the price and sells products without actually owning them. In the Shari’ah, selling a commodity without owning it is not permissible. Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Abbas radhiyallahu anhu reports that the Messenger of Allāh sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, “Whoever purchases food then he must not sell it until he owns it.”[2] Sayyiduna Hakim ibn Hizam radhiyallahu anhu reports that he once asked, ‘O Messenger of Allāh! A man comes to me wanting to buy that is not with me. Shall I purchase it for him from the market?” He said, “Do not sell what is not with you.”[3]

The first hadith uses the term qabdh, meaning complete control of the item and unrestricted transaction as an independent party. The modes of possession vary from culture to culture and in our context, it implies the product is under your name and have full control of its transaction when owned.[4] This is not achieved during the sale because the stock is not in his possession, and therefore the sale won’t be valid. The reasons for its prohibition are many, but two are relevant.  The first is gharar which refers to the risk of uncertain involved when selling an item without ownership. The second rationale pertains to deriving profit from an item without assuming liability (ribh ma lam yadhman) should the item be lost or destroyed.[5] If an item is damaged or destroyed, the legal responsibility falls on the supplier who owns the inventory, not the dropshipper. The dropshipper simply acts as the seller of record and handles customer inquiries and sales transactions. Engaging in such transaction results in a void transaction (bayi’ fasid).[6]  The above impermissibility can be rectified by following one of the below models.

The first option is the dropshipper should avoid completing the transaction before owning the item. Instead, he agrees to sell a product to a potential customer without receiving full payment upfront (or just take a small deposit to secure the agreement). Once the dropshipper acquires the commodity, then they can finalize the sale by collecting the remaining payment and then dispatching the item to the customer.[7] The second option is the dropshipper to act as an agent on behalf of the company/supplier,[8] by signing a formal contract with them to act as their representative and so he is contracting the sale on their behalf. Alternatively, the amount he collects from the customer becomes a security deposit and once he receives the product from the suppliers, he then contracts the sale on their behalf. A third approach involves serving as a broker for the supplier, earning a commission by facilitating transactions between the supplier and the customer. The dropshipper receives a fixed percentage from each sale generated through his marketing efforts, thereby driving increased buyer interest in the supplier’s products.[9]

Another proposed model is deferred-sale (bayi’ salam) where the price is collected upfront and the product delivery is deferred to a later date.[10] The Shari’ah permits this model with strict conditions such as the upfront payment and not deferred, the quantity and quality of the product is known, the  delivery date of the commodity is known, the commodity must be owned and available and both the price and commodity is agreed upon by both parties.[11] In short, everything about the price and commodity must be fixed at the time of the sale. Even in this model, the dropshipper is required to own the item prior to making a sale.

In conclusion, the primary reason for the prohibition of dropshipping is that the dropshipper does not have ownership nor bears any liability of the commodity at the time of sale. However, if the alternative models previously discussed are implemented, then the transactions will be permissible.

[Allãh Knows Best]

Written and researched by (Mufti) Abdul Waheed

Answer Attested by Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam

JKN Fatawa Department

[1] For details, see; https://www.shopify.com/blog/what-is-dropshipping?term=&adid=732988891599&campaignid=17075828612&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17075828612&gbraid=0AAAAAC3Mv88vTrO0JRoHQ5M7AnGARFB2_&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7HIBhDoARIsAOATDxCP9DhEtsXLvPNFZAUkWjlER9nXsXLS2UgFOSkDxf1M1HiJ4EqXJ2gaAoVcEALw_wcB (Accessed November 2025)

See video that explains the process, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URZ8VlgBrwE (Accessed November 2025)

[2] Sahih Muslim, No: 30

8 – بَابُ بُطْلَانِ بَيْعِ الْمَبِيعِ قَبْلَ الْقَبْضِ

عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَنِ ابْتَاعَ طَعَامًا فَلَا يَبِعْهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَهُ»، قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: وَأَحْسِبُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ مِثْلَهُ،

عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنِ ابْتَاعَ طَعَامًا فَلَا يَبِعْهُ حَتَّى يَقْبِضَهُ»، قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: «وَأَحْسِبُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الطَّعَامِ»

[3] Sunan Abu Dawood, No: 3503

بَابٌ فِي الرَّجُلِ يَبِيعُ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ

عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ، قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، يَأْتِينِي الرَّجُلُ فَيُرِيدُ مِنِّي الْبَيْعَ لَيْسَ عِنْدِي أَفَأَبْتَاعُهُ لَهُ مِنَ السُّوقِ؟ فَقَالَ: «لَا تَبِعْ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَكَ»

[4] Kasān, Badā’i Sanāi, Kitāb al-Buyu’, vol 5 p. 147-148

[فَصْلٌ فِي الشَّرْط الَّذِي يَرْجِعُ إلَى الْمَعْقُودِ عَلَيْهِ]

(وَمِنْهَا) وَهُوَ شَرْطُ انْعِقَادِ الْبَيْعِ لِلْبَائِعِ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَمْلُوكًا لِلْبَائِعِ عِنْدَ الْبَيْعِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَا يَنْعَقِدْ، وَإِنْ مَلَكَهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ بِوَجْهٍ مِنْ الْوُجُوهِ إلَّا السَّلَمَ خَاصَّةً، وَهَذَا بَيْعُ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ «، وَنَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – عَنْ بَيْعِ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَ الْإِنْسَانِ، وَرَخَّصَ فِي السَّلَمِ» وَلَوْ بَاعَ الْمَغْصُوبَ فَضَمَّنَهُ الْمَالِكُ قِيمَتَهُ نَفَذَ بَيْعُهُ؛ لِأَنَّ سَبَبَ الْمِلْكِ قَدْ تَقَدَّمَ فَتَبَيَّنَ أَنَّهُ بَاعَ مِلْكَ نَفْسِهِ، وَهَهُنَا تَأَخَّرَ سَبَبُ الْمِلْكِ فَيَكُونُ بَائِعًا مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ فَدَخَلَ تَحْتَ النَّهْيِ، وَالْمُرَادُ مِنْهُ بَيْعُ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ مِلْكًا؛ لِأَنَّ قِصَّةَ الْحَدِيثِ تَدُلُّ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ رُوِيَ أَنَّ «حَكِيمَ بْنَ حِزَامٍ كَانَ يَبِيعُ النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَ لَا يَمْلِكُهَا، وَيَأْخُذُ الثَّمَنَ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ يَدْخُلُ السُّوقَ فَيَشْتَرِي، وَيُسَلِّمَ إلَيْهِمْ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – فَقَالَ لَا تَبِعْ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَكَ» ، وَلِأَنَّ بَيْعَ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ بِطَرِيقِ الْأَصَالَةِ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ تَمْلِيكُ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُهُ بِطَرِيقِ الْأَصَالَةِ، وَأَنَّهُ مُحَالٌ وَهُوَ الشَّرْطُ فِيمَا يَبِيعُهُ بِطَرِيقِ الْأَصَالَةِ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ فَأَمَّا مَا يَبِيعُهُ بِطَرِيقِ النِّيَابَةِ عَنْ غَيْرِهِ يُنْظَرُ إنْ كَانَ الْبَائِعُ وَكِيلًا وَكَفِيلًا فَيَكُونُ الْمَبِيعُ مَمْلُوكًا لِلْبَائِعِ لَيْسَ بِشَرْطٍ، وَإِنْ كَانَ فُضُولِيًّا فَلَيْسَ بِشَرْطٍ لِلِانْعِقَادِ عِنْدَنَا بَلْ هُوَ مِنْ شَرَائِطِ النَّفَاذ فَإِنَّ بَيْعَ الْفُضُولِيِّ عِنْدَنَا مُنْعَقِدٌ مَوْقُوفٌ عَلَى إجَازَةِ الْمَالِكِ، فَإِنْ أَجَازَ نَفَذَ، وَإِنْ رَدَّ بَطَلَ،…….

وَلَا يُشْتَرَطُ الْقَبْضُ بِالْبَرَاجِمِ؛ لِأَنَّ مَعْنَى الْقَبْضِ هُوَ التَّمْكِينُ، وَالتَّخَلِّي، وَارْتِفَاعُ الْمَوَانِعِ عُرْفًا وَعَادَةً حَقِيقَةً

Kasān, Badā’i Sanāi, Kitāb al-Hiba, vol 6 p. 120

فَصْلٌ فِي شَرَائِط رُكْن الْهِبَة

وَلِأَنَّ الْقَبْضَ شَرْطُ جَوَازِ هَذَا الْعَقْدِ وَالشُّيُوعُ يَمْنَعُ مِنْ الْقَبْضِ لِأَنَّ مَعْنَى الْقَبْضِ هُوَ التَّمَكُّنُ مِنْ التَّصَرُّفِ فِي الْمَقْبُوضِ

See Shaykh Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Jadeed Fiqhi Maqalat, vol 4, p. 195-200

[5] Shaykh Mufti Ridhaul Haq, Fatawa Darul-Ulum Zakaiyyah, vol 5, p. 114

[6] Shaykh Mufti Ridhaul Haq, Fatawa Darul-Ulum Zakaiyyah, vol 5, p. 115, Shaykh Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Jadeed Fiqhi Maqalat, vol 4, p. 193

[7] Mufti Rasheed Ahmad Ludhyanqi, Ahsanul Fatawa, vol 6, p. 525,

[8] Kasān, Badā’i Sanāi, Kitāb al-Buyu’, vol 6 p. 20

[فَصْلٌ فِي الشَّرْط الَّذِي يَرْجِعُ إلَى الْمَعْقُودِ عَلَيْهِ]

فَالْوِلَايَةُ فِي الْأَصْلِ نَوْعَانِ: نَوْعٌ يَثْبُتُ بِتَوْلِيَةِ الْمَالِكِ، وَنَوْعٌ يَثْبُتُ شَرْعًا لَا بِتَوْلِيَةِ الْمَالِكِ، أَمَّا الْأَوَّلُ فَهُوَ وِلَايَةُ الْوَكِيلِ فَيَنْفُذُ تَصَرُّفُ الْوَكِيلِ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ الْمَحَلُّ مَمْلُوكًا لَهُ لِوُجُودِ الْوِلَايَةِ الْمُسْتَفَادَةِ مِنْ الْمُوَكِّلِ.

Kasān, Badā’i Sanāi, Kitāb al-Buyu’, vol 5 p. 152

[فَصْلٌ فِي بَيَانُ رُكْنِ التَّوْكِيلِ]

(فَصْلٌ) :وَأَمَّا بَيَانُ رُكْنِ التَّوْكِيلِ. فَهُوَ الْإِيجَابُ وَالْقَبُولُ فَالْإِيجَابُ مِنْ الْمُوَكِّلِ أَنْ يَقُولَ: ” وَكَّلْتُكَ بِكَذَا ” أَوْ ” افْعَلْ كَذَا ” أَوْ ” أَذِنْتُ لَكَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَ كَذَا ” وَنَحْوُهُ.وَالْقَبُولُ مِنْ الْوَكِيلِ أَنْ يَقُولَ: ” قَبِلْتُ ” وَمَا يَجْرِي مَجْرَاهُ، فَمَا لَمْ يُوجَدْ الْإِيجَابُ وَالْقَبُولُ لَا يَتِمُّ الْعَقْدُ؛ وَلِهَذَا لَوْ وَكَّلَ إنْسَانًا بِقَبْضِ دَيْنِهِ فَأَبَى أَنْ يَقْبَلَ، ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ الْوَكِيلُ فَقَبَضَهُ لَمْ يَبْرَأْ الْغَرِيمُ؛ لِأَنَّ تَمَامَ الْعَقْدِ بِالْإِيجَابِ وَالْقَبُولِ، وَكُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا يَرْتَدُّ بِالرَّدِّ قَبْلَ وُجُودِ الْآخَرِ، كَمَا فِي الْبَيْعِ وَنَحْوِهِ.

[9] Ibn Nujaym, Bahr Rāiq, Kitāb al-Buyu’, vol 7 p. 270

(فَلَوْ بَاعَ الْمَتَاعَ مُرَابَحَةً حُسِبَ مَا أَنْفَقَ عَلَى الْمَتَاعِ) مِنْ الْحُمْلَانِ وَأُجْرَةِ السِّمْسَارِ وَالْقَصَّارِ وَالصَّبَّاغِ وَنَحْوِهِ وَيَقُولُ قَامَ عَلَيَّ بِكَذَا وَالْأَصْلُ أَنَّ مَا يُوجِبُ زِيَادَةً فِي رَأْسِ الْمَالِ حَقِيقَةً أَوْ حُكْمًا يَضُمُّهُ إلَى رَأْسِ الْمَالِ وَكَذَا مَا اعْتَادَهُ التُّجَّارُ كَأُجْرَةِ السِّمْسَارِ كَذَا فِي النِّهَايَةِ.

Durrul Mukhtār, Kitāb al-Buyu’, vol 5 p. 102

كُرِهَ (بَيْعُ الْحَاضِرِ لِلْبَادِي) وَهَذَا (فِي حَالَةِ قَحْطٍ وَعَوَزٍ وَإِلَّا لَا) لِانْعِدَامِ الضَّرَرِ، قِيلَ الْحَاضِرُ الْمَالِكُ وَالْبَادِي الْمُشْتَرِي وَالْأَصَحُّ كَمَا فِي الْمُجْتَبَى أَنَّهُمَا السِّمْسَارُ وَالْبَائِعُ لِمُوَافَقَتِهِ آخِرَ الْحَدِيثِ «دَعُوا النَّاسَ يَرْزُقُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا»

Durrul Mukhtār wa hashiyah Ibn Ābideen Shāmi Kitāb al-Buyu’, vol 5 p. 136

(وَأُجْرَةَ السِّمْسَارِ) هُوَ الدَّالُّ عَلَى مَكَانِ السِّلْعَةِ وَصَاحِبِهَا (الْمَشْرُوطَةَ فِي الْعَقْدِ) عَلَى مَا جَزَمَ بِهِ فِي الدُّرَرِ وَرَجَّحَ فِي الْبَحْرِ الْإِطْلَاقَ وَضَابِطُهُ كُلُّ مَا يَزِيدُ فِي الْمَبِيعِ أَوْ فِي قِيمَتِهِ يُضَمُّ

(قَوْلُهُ: هُوَ الدَّالُّ عَلَى مَكَانِ السِّلْعَةِ وَصَاحِبِهَا) لَا فَرْقَ لُغَةً بَيْنَ السِّمْسَارِ وَالدَّلَّالِ، وَقَدْ فَسَّرَهُمَا فِي الْقَامُوسِ بِالْمُتَوَسِّطِ بَيْنَ الْبَائِعِ وَالْمُشْتَرِي، وَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا الْفُقَهَاءُ، فَالسِّمْسَارُ هُوَ مَا ذَكَرَهُ الْمُؤَلِّفُ، وَالدَّلَّالُ هُوَ الْمُصَاحِبُ لِلسِّلْعَةِ غَالِبًا……

(قَوْلُهُ: وَرَجَّحَ فِي الْبَحْرِ الْإِطْلَاقَ) حَيْثُ قَالَ: وَأَمَّا أُجْرَةُ السِّمْسَارِ وَالدَّلَّالِ فَقَالَ الشَّارِحُ الزَّيْلَعِيُّ: إنْ كَانَتْ مَشْرُوطَةً فِي الْعَقْدِ تُضَمُّ، وَإِلَّا فَأَكْثَرُهُمْ عَلَى عَدَمِ الضَّمِّ فِي الْأَوَّلِ، وَلَا تُضَمُّ أُجْرَةُ الدَّلَّالِ بِالْإِجْمَاعِ

Durrul Mukhtār wa hashiyah Ibn Ābideen Shāmi Kitāb al-Buyu’, vol 6 p. 63

[مَطْلَبٌ فِي اسْتِئْجَارِ الْمَاءِ مَعَ الْقَنَاةِ وَاسْتِئْجَارِ الْآجَامِ وَالْحِيَاضِ لِلسَّمَكِ]

مَطْلَبٌ فِي أُجْرَةِ الدَّلَّالِ [تَتِمَّةٌ]

قَالَ فِي التتارخانية: وَفِي الدَّلَّالِ وَالسِّمْسَارِ يَجِبُ أَجْرُ الْمِثْلِ، وَمَا تَوَاضَعُوا عَلَيْهِ أَنَّ فِي كُلِّ عَشَرَةِ دَنَانِيرَ كَذَا فَذَاكَ حَرَامٌ عَلَيْهِمْ. وَفِي الْحَاوِي: سُئِلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أُجْرَةِ السِّمْسَارِ، فَقَالَ: أَرْجُو أَنَّهُ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي الْأَصْلِ فَاسِدًا لِكَثْرَةِ التَّعَامُلِ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْ هَذَا غَيْرُ جَائِزٍ، فَجَوَّزُوهُ لِحَاجَةِ النَّاسِ إلَيْهِ كَدُخُولِ الْحَمَّامِ وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ ابْنَ شُجَاعٍ يُقَاطِعُ نَسَّاجًا يَنْسِجُ لَهُ ثِيَابًا فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ.

Shaykh Mufti Ridhaul Haq, Fatawa Darul-Ulum Zakaiyyah, vol 5, p. 113-116,

[10] Fatawa Hindiyyah, Kitāb al-Buyu’, vol 3, p. 178

[الْفَصْلُ الْأَوَّلُ فِي تَفْسِير السَّلَم وَرُكْنِهِ وَشَرَائِطِهِ وَحُكْمِهِ]

أَمَّا تَفْسِيرُهُ فَالسَّلَمُ عَقْدٌ يَثْبُتُ بِهِ الْمِلْكُ فِي الثَّمَنِ عَاجِلًا وَفِي الْمُثَمَّنِ آجِلًا.

[11] Shaykh Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Qamoosul Fiqh, Salam, vol 4, pp. 171-176