I import goods for trade, then I sell them before they arrive and I receive them. What is the ruling on that?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Selling goods before they arrive is not permissible, because
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade selling
goods in the place where they were bought, until the merchants have taken
them to their own place. So it is essential first to take possession of
them, then you can sell them. As for selling them when they are in another
country, and you do not know whether they will arrive in good condition or
not, this is not permissible.
If someone were to say that the purchaser is obliged to take
the goods whether they are faulty or not, we say: not even if he agrees to
that, because he may agree to it when making the deal because he wants to
make a profit, then after that he may regret it, and there may be a dispute
between him and the seller. Islam – praise be to Allaah – has blocked all
the ways that may lead to regret and disputes. Similarly if the goods are
destroyed, there may be a conflict between the two parties. The point is
that it is not permissible to sell goods until they reach their destination
with the seller, then he may dispose of them.
