Dropshipping Follow Up Query
Question
My understanding with Dropshipping is that the main issue behind it is that the dropshipper does not take any possession of the item in the transaction. This is shown by the fact that they do not take any liability when the item is transferred to the customer (the one buying). Considering this, would Dropshipping be permissible if one was to organise their own moving company to take the item from the manufacturer and ship it to the customer. Hence, they become like an agent? In this case, would the drop shipper need to take liability during the travel so that he can have ‘taken possession’ of the product? This might be the position of the Mālikiyyah, but I am not completely sure. If this is not permissible, is there any other method to make it permissible? I hope you can shed some light on this issue.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
Answer
If the dropshipper appoints the courier company, this is sufficient and can make the arrangement permissible. This is because the liability now lies with the dropshipper, not the supplier (manufacturer). For further details, refer to our earlier answer on Dropshipping: https://islamicportal.co.uk/is-dropshipping-halal/.
Allah knows best
Yusuf Shabbir
13 Dhū al-Qaʿdah 1447 / 1 May 2026
Approved by: Mufti Shabbir Ahmed and Mufti Muhammad Tahir
