8 Manners of Online Buying and Selling in Islam and Its Verses

One of the things that is very much happening currently is online buying and selling. The ease of online transactions makes this activity can be done by anyone and everywhere. Even though the law of online buying and selling in Islam is halal, however we must still pay attention to the manners in doing it. The following are 8 manners of online buying and selling in Islam and its verses that need to be noticed:

1. Using an agreement

In online buying and selling, the meeting between the seller and buyer may not happen, however it does not mean there is no agreement in this transaction.

In the book of Fathul Mu’in, ijab and qabul in buying and selling transaction is:

الايجاب هو ما دل على التملِيك دلالة ظاهرة،والقبول هو ما دل علي التملُك كذالك

“Ijab is a proof that shows the surrender with a clear proof (can be accounted for), meanwhile qabul is a proof that shows the acceptance.”

Online buying and selling uses telephone, chat, email, and other medias as the ijab qabul media. Even though it is invisible, however in that selling and buying, the agreement must still be done.

2. Be Honest

Neither the seller nor buyer is allowed to commit fraud. Even though the buyer can not see the goods that are sold directly, however the seller should be able to be honest and should not commit fraud. Indeed, a deceiving trader is not from the group of the Prophet.

From Abu Hurairah, he said,

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- مَرَّ عَلَى صُبْرَةِ طَعَامٍ فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فِيهَا فَنَالَتْ أَصَابِعُهُ بَلَلاً فَقَالَ « مَا هَذَا يَا صَاحِبَ الطَّعَامِ ». قَالَ أَصَابَتْهُ السَّمَاءُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. قَالَ « أَفَلاَ جَعَلْتَهُ فَوْقَ الطَّعَامِ كَىْ يَرَاهُ النَّاسُ مَنْ غَشَّ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّى »

“The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam once passed through a stack of food, then he put his hand in to it, then his hand touched something that was wet, then he asked, “What is this, O the owner of the food?” The owner answered, “That food is exposed to the rainwater, O Rasulullah.” He said, “Why don’t you put it in the part of the food so that people can see it? Know it that whoever deceives then he is not our group.” (Hadith Muslim)

The Prophet also once said,

مَنْ غَشَّنَا فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا، وَالْمَكْرُ وَالْخِدَاعُ فِي النَّارِ

“Whoever deceives, then he does not belong to our group. People who do a trick and deception, their place is in hell.” (Hadith Ibn Hibban, shahih)

3. Do not raise prices

Raising prices according to the current economic conditions is okay as long as it is still in a normal limit, however if the trader raises prices until causing trouble to the buyer, then it is a forbidden deed. In Islam, the act of raising prices like this is called najasy where the trader takes the profit more than he should.

Narrated from the companion of Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu ‘anhu, the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

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وَلاَ تَنَاجَشُوا

“… and do not buy and sell najasy … ” (Hadith Bukhari no. 2150 and Muslim 1515)

From the companion of Ibn ‘Umar radhiyallahu ‘anhu, he said,

نَهَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ النَّجْشِ

“The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam forbids from buying and selling najasy.” (Hadith Bukhari no. 2142 and Muslim no 1516)

4. Do not sell forbidden goods

In Islam, only halal goods that are allowed to be traded. From Jabir bin Abdillah, he heard the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said in Mecca when the conquest of Mecca city (the year of 8 H),

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ حَرَّمَ بَيْعَ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْتَةِ وَالْخِنْزِيرِ وَالأَصْنَامِ » . فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، أَرَأَيْتَ شُحُومَ الْمَيْتَةِ فَإِنَّهَا يُطْلَى بِهَا السُّفُنُ ، وَيُدْهَنُ بِهَا الْجُلُودُ ، وَيَسْتَصْبِحُ بِهَا النَّاسُ . فَقَالَ « لاَ ، هُوَ حَرَامٌ » . ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ « قَاتَلَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَّا حَرَّمَ شُحُومَهَا جَمَلُوهُ ثُمَّ بَاعُوهُ فَأَكَلُوا ثَمَنَهُ

“Indeed, Allah and His Prophet forbids buying and selling khamar, carrion, pigs and statues.” Someone asked, “O Rasulullah, what do you think about buying and selling carrion fat, considering that the carrion fat is used to patch the boat, oiling skin, and become oil for lighting?” The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “You can’t! Buying and selling the carrion fat is forbidden.” Then, the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “May Allah curses Jews. Indeed, when Allah forbidden the carrion fat, they melted it then sold the oil of the carrion fat, then they ate the sale outcome.” (Hadith Bukhari no. 2236 and Muslim, no. 4132)

5. Explaining the disgrace of the goods

When selling, we certainly want the goods to look very good so that it is sold quickly. However, we are also not allowed to hide the disgrace or disability of the goods. If it is hidden, then of course it will certainly be a fraud that harms the buyer.

From ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir radhiyallahu ‘anhu, that the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

اَلْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ وَلاَ يَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ بَاعَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ بَيْعًا فِيْهِ عَيْبٌ إِلاَّ بَيَّنَهُ لَهُ.

“A Muslim is a relative for other Muslims and it is not halal for a Muslim to sell something that there is a disgrace to other people except he explains the disgrace to them.”

6. Cancellation rights for the buyers

A seller should give the cancellation rights to the buyers that feel deceived or are not satisfy with the good that they bought. From Ibn Umar, he said: “A man told the Prophet SAW that he had been deceived in buying and selling. Then the Prophet said: ‘If you buy and sell, then say La khilab (no fraud).” (Muttafaq Alaih).

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7. Do not vilify the other online businesses

In the business world, competition is a common thing. However, if using a dirty way such as vilify other businesses to get a customer or profit, then this belongs to a forbidden deed. From Ibn Umar ra: Indeed, the Prophet SAW said: “Let no one of you sell with the intention to vilify what is sold by others, and do not propose the relative’s proposal unless the relative has given a permission to him.” (Muttafaq Allah).

8. Set the product photo

Online buying and selling will be valid if the goods that are sold are pictured according to the original form. The seller must enclose the product photo that is sold without editing that can change the form of the product. From Ibn Mas’ud: The Prophet SAW said, “Do not buy a fish in the pond, because indeed, there is a fraud in it.” (Hadith Ahmad).

Those were the 8 manners of online buying and selling in Islam and its verses that need to be noticed. Remember that do not underestimate this case. Practice it so that the selling and buying that we do is more blessing.