DAILY FIQH

Question: Is it permissible for a shop keeper to sell to a customer an item that he does not have in stock?

Answer: The general principle is that one is not allowed to sell something that you do yet possess. 

However, if the shop keeper informs the customer that he does not have the item in stock and together with giving him a complete description of the item he also fixes a time for delivery - then it will be permissible. (This is termed as Salam transaction according to the Islamic Laws of commerce)

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 (ج١ص٢٠٣)

And Allah Knows Best

Yusuf Moosagie 

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