Conditions of Valid Sale in Islam

Sale is one of the most significant financial transactions in Islam. The Qur’an and Sunnah provide clear guidelines to ensure fairness and prevent injustice. Allah says:

“Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden usury.”
[Qur’an, Al-Baqarah 2:275]

Thus, a valid sale is one that complies with the Shari’ah conditions established by Islamic jurists.

Main Conditions of a Valid Sale

• Mutual Consent: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, the sale is only through mutual consent.” [Ibn Majah – authenticated by Al-Albani].
• Clear Contract: The product and price must be clearly known. The Prophet ﷺ forbade ambiguous sales, saying: “He forbade the sale of pebble-throwing and the sale involving uncertainty.” [Muslim].
• Lawfulness of the Item: The item must be lawful in Islam. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah and His Messenger have forbidden the sale of alcohol, dead animals, swine, and idols.” [Bukhari & Muslim].
• Ability to Deliver: A seller cannot sell items he cannot deliver, such as fish in the water or birds in the sky.
• Ownership of the Item: The seller must own the item or have permission to sell it. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not sell what you do not possess.” [Tirmidhi – Hasan Sahih].

Modern Applications

In e-commerce, these conditions remain applicable: sellers must provide accurate product descriptions, specify exact prices, disclose shipping costs, and ensure delivery. This ensures the validity of the sale in Islam and protects both parties.

Valid vs. Invalid Sale

A valid sale fulfills all the above conditions, while an invalid or void sale lacks a fundamental condition, such as selling prohibited items or selling what one does not own.

Conclusion

The conditions of valid sale in Islam are not mere technicalities, but essential principles designed to protect society, ensure fairness, and prevent disputes. In the next article of the Fiqh of Sales series, we will explore the different types of sale in Islam.