Can the one appointed to purchase make a profit?
Question
My relative asked me to buy a washing machine for him. The washing machine cost R5000 for example. Can I inform my relative that the machine cost R7000? He does not know that I will charge him extra.
Answer
If he has appointed you to purchase the washing machine for him, then it will not be permissible for you to take R7000 from him. The extra R2000 will be haraam. However, if you wish to earn halaal wealth through a permissible sale, then inform him that you will not purchase the washing machine for him, but rather you will purchase it for yourself and thereafter sell it to him with a profit. In this way, the extra money will be halaal for you.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
(ولو وكله بشراء شيء بعينه فليس له أن يشتريه لنفسه) لأنه يؤدي إلى تغرير الآمر حيث اعتمد عليه ولأن فيه عزل نفسه ولا يملكه على ما قيل إلا بمحضر من الموكل (الهداية 3/183-184)
قال البيع ينعقد بالإيجاب والقبول إذا كانا بلفظي الماضي (الهداية 3/18)
هو مبادلة المال بالمال بالتراضي بطريق الاكتساب (العناية شرح الهداية 3/457)
- Answered by
- Mufti Zakaria Makada
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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