Fatwa #4165720 March 2019United States of America
Cross-Retailer Return
Question
Asalama'alaikum,
There's an offer at a store (Store 1) where if you spend $100, you will receive $20 as a gift card. My friend suggested to buy the product in the offer [which is also being sold a lot a cheaper price] (even if we don't need them). Then return them to another store (Store 2) for the full price without providing a receipt. In the end there is extra money on our hands and the gift card. Is it permissable to do this?
Jazak Allah.
P.S. If there was a question just like this already answers, please direct me to it, as I was unable to find it.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
According to our understanding, your query refers to “Cross-Retailer Return”.
Cross-retailer return is purchasing an item from a retailer (usually at a discount) and then returning the purchased item at another store, at a higher price. This practice is considered as “Return fraud”.[1] Return fraud is the act of defrauding a retail store via the return process whereby a customer abuses a company’s return policy to obtain money/products illegally.
Shari`ah Ruling:
According to Shariah “Cross-Retailer Return” is not permissible as it is an act of deceiving which is strictly prohibited in Islam. There are stern warnings against deceiving and cheating. Consider the following hadith:
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said:
“Whoever cheats is not from us”. [2]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Anas Sharieff Qasmi.
Student Darul Iftaa
Hyderabad, India.
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
_________
[2] - صحيح مسلم - كِتَاب الإِيمَانِ - باب قول النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : " من غشنا فليس منا "
بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع (5/ 223)
وقال: - عليه الصلاة والسلام - «ليس منا من غشنا»