Sending money to an agent to buy cars from America without a guarantee

Question : Shaykh, there is a transaction in car buying where an agent shows pictures of cars in distant countries like America, and the buyer pays the money to the agent, who then transfers the money to America to send the car, without any guarantee that the car will arrive.

Answer : This is not permissible because it involves gharar (excessive uncertainty in a contract) and risk. For example, if he says, “I will sell you cars from such-and-such a company with such-and-such specifications,” this is not permissible. However, if he says, “I will sell you a car with such-and-such specifications in two or three months, and you pay the price in cash,” then there is nothing wrong with it, because in the latter case, the contract is for what is in the debt. Yes.