Fatwa No : 84405
The Ruling on Purchasing Pre-Weighed Goods in the Absence of the Buyer

The Ruling on Purchasing Pre-Weighed Goods in the Absence of the Buyer

What do the honorable Muftis say regarding the following issue that nowadays, some people place an order at a shop for a particular item, asking the shopkeeper to weigh and prepare it in their absence. When the buyer later comes to collect it, is it necessary for the shopkeeper to weigh it again in front of the buyer? On occasions such as Eid, some shopkeepers pre-weigh certain goods (for example, sugar) and keep them ready. When a customer requests such an item, they hand it over without weighing it again in front of the buyer. Is this method permissible? Furthermore, in the case of sweets and bakery items such as biscuits, they are often sold in boxes. If a customer orders one kilogram of biscuits, the box is included in the total weight, meaning the actual biscuits weigh less than one kilogram. In our locality, this practice has become common among almost all bakers. Is such a method of selling valid according to Shariah? Kindly provide a detailed reply in light of Islamic teachings so that we may benefit.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

1–2. In the situations mentioned in the question, if the buyer has trust in the seller, it is not necessary to re-weigh the goods in the presence of the buyer. Conducting the transaction based on trust in the seller is Islamically valid and permissible.
3. Likewise, in the case of sweets and similar items sold in boxes, if the weight is slightly reduced due to the box and the buyer is aware of this practice because it is customary in the market, then such a method of sale is also Islamically valid and permissible.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما في فيض الباري على صحيح البخاري: فالذي يتبيّن أن المشتري إن اعتمد على كَيْلِ البائع، جاز له أكله بدون إعادة الكَيْلِ، سواء كان بحضرته، أو بِغَيْبَتِهِ. (3/ 437)۔
وفي الدر المختار: (اشترى مكيلا بشرط الكيل حرم) أي كره تحريما (بيعه وأكله حتى يكيله) وقد صرحوا بفساده وبأنه لا يقال لآكله إنه أكل حراما لعدم التلازم كما بسطه الكمال لكونه أكل ملكه (ومثله الموزون والمعدود) بشرط الوزن والعد لاحتمال الزيادة، وهي للبائع بخلافه مجازفة؛ لأن الكل للمشتري وقيد بقوله (غير الدراهم والدنانير) لجواز التصرف فيهما بعد القبض قبل الوزن كبيع التعاطي فإنه لا يحتاج في الموزونات إلى وزن المشتري ثانيا؛ لأنه صار بيعا بالقبض بعد الوزن قنية وعليه الفتوى – خلاصة اھ (5/ 150)۔
وفي الأشباه والنظائر – حنفي: فصل في تعارض العرف مع الشرع : فإذا تعارضا قدم عرف الاستعمال اھ (ص: 120)۔