Commission through Brokerage: Permissible or Not? Complete Shar‘i Guidance
Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il, Issues of Buying and Selling, Vol. 1, p. 374
❖ Question:
What is the status of a broker (dalāl) who earns money or commission through brokerage? Is this practice permissible or not?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لاَ يَبِعْ حَاضِرٌ لِّبَادٍ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī & Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Translation:
A townsman should not sell on behalf of a bedouin.
❖ Derived Ruling from the Ḥadīth:
◈ A townsman can sell the goods of another townsman.
◈ A bedouin can sell the goods of another bedouin.
◈ A bedouin can sell the goods of a townsman (i.e., act as a broker).
However, a townsman selling on behalf of a bedouin is prohibited.
❖ Conclusion:
Thus, the three forms of brokerage mentioned above are permissible, provided that they do not involve anything contrary to Sharī‘ah.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
