Fatwa: # 41657
Category: Jurisprudence and Rulings...
Country: United States
Date: 20th March 2019

Title

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.

 

 

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_fraud

https://www.apexdisplay.com.au/blog/warning-return-fraud-is-hurting-retailers/370

 

[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»

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