The seller sold goods he did not have and went to buy them from the market
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Q2: A customer came to me and asked for a specific item, which I did not have in stock, but it was available at another shop. The price at the other shop was, for example, 100 riyals. After asking, the buyer asked me: "What is the price?" I told him: "I will sell it to you for 150 riyals." The buyer said: "No objection, bring it to me." If I buy this item for 100 riyals and sell it to him for 150 riyals, is this permissible? Or if I ask him to give me the sale price, which is 150 riyals, and I buy the item for 100 riyals,
and I take 50 riyals as profit for my effort and work, is this permissible? If it is not permissible, how should we act, and is this sale considered selling what one does not possess?
A2: The nature of this sale mentioned is selling what you do not own and what is not with you. Therefore, it is not permissible to sell this item to him until you take possession of it and acquire it into your ownership. Once you own the item, it is permissible for you to sell it to the buyer for a price you both agree upon, with your mutual consent, and with a profit that benefits you and does not harm the buyer. However, if you are appointed as his agent to buy a specific item, it is not permissible for you to take from him an amount exceeding its price; because the agent is a trustee. If the buyer gives you a portion of the money voluntarily as compensation for your services, it is permissible for you to take it in this case.
and I take 50 riyals as profit for my effort and work, is this permissible? If it is not permissible, how should we act, and is this sale considered selling what one does not possess?
A2: The nature of this sale mentioned is selling what you do not own and what is not with you. Therefore, it is not permissible to sell this item to him until you take possession of it and acquire it into your ownership. Once you own the item, it is permissible for you to sell it to the buyer for a price you both agree upon, with your mutual consent, and with a profit that benefits you and does not harm the buyer. However, if you are appointed as his agent to buy a specific item, it is not permissible for you to take from him an amount exceeding its price; because the agent is a trustee. If the buyer gives you a portion of the money voluntarily as compensation for your services, it is permissible for you to take it in this case.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.