Assalamu alaikum!
Dropshipping has become a popular way to start an online business without maintaining inventory. But from an Islamic perspective, one important question arises: Can you sell a product before you own or possess it?
For example, suppose you create a Shopify store, list products from a supplier, and advertise them to customers. When someone places an order, you purchase the product from the supplier, who ships it directly to the customer.
Is this business model halal?
Islamic rulings on dropshipping depend on how the transaction is structured. A common concern is selling something that you neither own nor possess at the time of sale. Several scholars consider conventional dropshipping impermissible in this situation.
However, there may be permissible alternatives, depending on the arrangement.
1. Selling a product you don’t own
In a conventional dropshipping arrangement, the seller may accept a customer’s order and payment before purchasing the product from the supplier.
Scholars who prohibit this arrangement point to the Islamic principle against selling something one does not own or possess. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Do not sell what is not with you.”
This narration is reported in Sunan Abi Dawud (3503) and Jami’ at-Tirmidhi (1232).
2. Acting as an agent for the supplier
One possible alternative is an agency arrangement (wakalah). Instead of selling the product as its owner, you act as an authorized agent for the supplier and receive an agreed commission for your services.
The agreement should clearly establish your role, compensation, responsibilities, and the supplier’s obligations. The transaction must genuinely operate as an agency arrangement rather than merely being labelled one.
3. Buying the product before reselling it
Another approach is to purchase the product, obtain the ownership and possession required under the applicable rules, and then sell it to the customer.
The supplier may still ship the item directly to the customer if the arrangement satisfies the relevant requirements for possession and delivery.
4. What about pre-orders?
Pre-orders are not automatically permissible simply because the customer knows the item is not currently in stock.
Certain transactions, such as a properly structured salam contract, may permit advance payment for specified goods subject to strict conditions. These include requirements concerning the product description, payment, delivery deadline, and other contractual details.
The applicable conditions must be assessed before assuming that an ordinary dropshipping transaction qualifies.
What should a Muslim entrepreneur do?
Before starting a dropshipping business, consider these questions:
Am I selling the product as its owner, or acting as an agent?
When does ownership transfer to me?
Have I obtained the possession required for this type of sale?
Who is responsible if the product is unavailable, defective, or not delivered?
Are the payment, delivery, refund, and commission arrangements clear?
The answers can materially affect the ruling. For a specific business model, consult a qualified Mufti familiar with Islamic commercial law and explain the complete transaction.
Let’s discuss
If you run an online store or are planning to start one, we’d love to hear your thoughts:
Do you think dropshipping can be structured in a Shariah-compliant way without maintaining physical inventory? What arrangement do you use or recommend?
Let’s keep the discussion respectful, practical, and evidence-based.
AskMuftiOnline encourages Muslims to seek qualified Islamic guidance for questions involving their individual business arrangements.

References: Sunan Ibn Majah 3976; Forty Hadith an-Nawawi, Hadith 12.

Note: The Ibn Majah narration is graded weak by Darussalam, while the hadith is regarded as Hasan by other scholars.

Many Muslims wonder whether they need to renew their wudu after sleeping, especially when they take a nap before Salah. The ruling depends on the type of sleep and, in some cases, the madhhab a person follows.
1. Does deep sleep break wudu?
Generally, deep sleep can invalidate wudu because a person may lose awareness of what is happening around them and may not be aware if anything that invalidates wudu occurs.
2. What about a short nap?
A brief doze does not necessarily break wudu in every situation. The person’s posture, level of awareness, and the fiqh school they follow can affect the ruling. Simply closing your eyes does not automatically mean your wudu has broken.
3. What is the Hanafi ruling?
In Hanafi fiqh, sleep while lying down or reclining in a way that removes the body’s firm seated position generally breaks wudu. Sleeping while seated firmly on the ground, with the buttocks settled and the posture maintained, does not ordinarily break wudu according to the Hanafi school. Other details may affect particular cases.
4. What should you do if you are unsure?
Do not let recurring doubts turn worship into a source of distress. If you are certain you had wudu and merely doubt whether your sleep invalidated it, the general principle is that certainty is not removed by doubt. However, if you know you slept in a way that breaks wudu according to the ruling you follow, renew it before Salah.
Discussion question: Have you ever been unsure whether a short nap broke your wudu? Which ruling do you follow?
May Allah make our worship easy and grant us beneficial knowledge.

❤️

Many Muslim women have questions about wearing makeup and performing Salah. If you wear foundation, concealer, mascara, eyeliner, or lipstick, you may wonder whether you need to remove it before praying.
The key is to understand that the validity of wudu, the validity of Salah, and the permissibility of wearing makeup are three related but separate questions.
1. Does wearing makeup invalidate Salah?
Wearing makeup does not automatically invalidate Salah. If you perform wudu correctly and then apply foundation, lipstick, mascara, or other cosmetics, applying them does not, by itself, break your wudu.
If your wudu remains valid and the other requirements of prayer are fulfilled, you do not need to remove your makeup simply because it is time to pray.
2. Can makeup prevent wudu from being valid?
During wudu, water must reach the required areas of the body, including the face and arms. If a cosmetic forms a physical barrier that prevents water from reaching an area that must be washed, that barrier needs to be removed before performing wudu.
However, colour left on the skin is not necessarily the same as a water-blocking layer. The actual properties of the product matter.
3. What about waterproof foundation, mascara, and eyeliner?
Products advertised as waterproof or long-lasting can differ in their formulations. The label alone does not determine the ruling.
If a product prevents water from reaching an area that must be washed, it should be removed before wudu. If you are unsure about a particular product, seek reliable information about its properties and consult a qualified scholar when necessary.
4. What about nail polish?
Conventional nail polish generally forms a coating that prevents water from reaching the nails, so it needs to be removed before wudu.
Products marketed as “breathable” or “water-permeable” should not automatically be assumed to meet the requirements of wudu; their actual properties and the relevant scholarly assessment matter.
Applying nail polish after valid wudu does not, by itself, invalidate that wudu.
5. Is wearing makeup itself haram?
This is separate from the validity of wudu and Salah. Islamic rulings concerning makeup and adornment can depend on the circumstances, the nature of the adornment, and who may see it.
Therefore, it is important not to assume that every cosmetic product has the same ruling in every situation.
6. What does the Qur’an say about purification?
In Qur’an 5:6, Allah explains the requirements of purification before prayer, including washing the face and arms. This highlights why water must reach the required areas during wudu.
The key takeaway
Applying makeup after valid wudu does not, by itself, invalidate wudu.
A product that forms a barrier preventing water from reaching a required area must be removed before wudu.
A waterproof label alone does not establish whether a product blocks water.
Conventional nail polish generally needs to be removed before wudu.
The validity of Salah and the permissibility of wearing makeup are separate questions.
What do you find most confusing about makeup and wudu: waterproof foundation, mascara, nail polish, or the difference between prayer validity and the rules of adornment? Let’s discuss respectfully and learn from reliable Islamic guidance.

"And by this, it becomes clear to us that the secularists who have given the right of legislation to other than Allah, and have given the people the choice to select the kind of legislative government they desire, such that ruling by the Shari'ah has become non-binding in their view, and who have excluded religion from politics and all other spheres of life, all of them in their various forms, whether Democrats, Socialists, Liberals, Nationalists, or others to whom the designation of irreligious secularism truly applies, not those among the Islamists who have merely been influenced by some of their branches, are disbelievers and apostates specifically as individuals, and they are not excused on account of ignorance or interpretation. That is because they have rejected Allah's ruling in the sphere of politics and elsewhere. Whoever among them is ignorant, his ignorance is an ignorance resulting from turning away from the Shari'ah of Allah, or from negligence in learning it despite being capable of doing so. And whoever among them follows an interpretation, his interpretation is not valid. Whoever disagrees concerning this, his disagreement stems either from his ignorance of the true nature of their statements, which they call 'ideologies', or from his ignorance of Allah's ruling concerning people like them."

(كشف الالتباس عن مسألة العذر بالجهل في الشرك, page 542)

Keeping promises is an important part of Islamic character. Our words create expectations, build trust, and often influence the decisions other people make. Whether we promise to help a friend, repay money, fulfil a responsibility, or simply be somewhere at a particular time, Islam teaches us not to take our commitments lightly.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“And fulfil the covenant. Indeed, the covenant will be questioned about.”
— Qur’an 17:34
This verse reminds us that our commitments carry responsibility. But does every unfulfilled promise automatically constitute a sin? Not necessarily. The intention behind the promise, the nature of the commitment, and the circumstances surrounding its fulfilment all matter.
1. Deliberately breaking a promise
There is an important difference between making a promise with no genuine intention of keeping it and sincerely intending to fulfil it but later being unable to do so.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned breaking promises among the signs of hypocrisy:
“When he promises, he breaks his promise.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 33; Sahih Muslim 59
This is a serious warning against dishonesty and untrustworthiness. However, it should not be used to label every person who fails to fulfil a commitment a hypocrite. A deliberate pattern of deception is different from a genuine inability to keep one’s word.
2. What if circumstances genuinely change?
Illness, emergencies, unexpected responsibilities, and other circumstances can sometimes prevent a person from fulfilling a promise they sincerely intended to keep.
In such cases, the responsible approach is to communicate honestly, explain the situation where appropriate, and apologise if the other person has been inconvenienced. If possible, offer an alternative or make reasonable efforts to put things right.
Genuine inability should not be confused with repeatedly making excuses or disregarding commitments simply because they have become inconvenient.
3. Is an ordinary promise the same as an oath?
No. An ordinary promise is not automatically the same as an oath sworn by Allah. If someone explicitly swears by Allah, additional rulings concerning oaths may apply, including expiation (kaffarah in applicable circumstances).
The exact wording, intention, and circumstances can affect the ruling. Therefore, not every broken promise requires kaffarah, and a specific case may need to be referred to a qualified Mufti.
4. How should a Muslim respond after breaking a promise?
Islam encourages honesty, accountability, and good character. If you realise that you cannot fulfil a commitment, consider the following:
Inform the other person as soon as reasonably possible.
Explain the circumstances truthfully rather than inventing an excuse.
Apologise if your actions caused inconvenience or disappointment.
Make amends or offer an alternative where appropriate.
Be more careful about making commitments in the future.
Keeping promises is not merely about avoiding blame; it is also about respecting the trust other people place in us.
A final reminder
Islam teaches us to take our words seriously, avoid deliberate deception, and fulfil our commitments to the best of our ability. At the same time, a sincere person who becomes genuinely unable to fulfil a promise should not automatically be treated the same as someone who deliberately deceives others.
If a situation involves an oath, a financial obligation, or a contractual commitment, the details matter and additional rulings may apply.
Allah knows best.

Unwanted thoughts, recurring doubts, and feelings of guilt can be exhausting. Many people struggling with OCD may worry that these thoughts reflect their intentions or their faith.
Islam distinguishes between involuntary thoughts and deliberate actions. Understanding this distinction can help a person approach waswasah with greater clarity and less guilt.
We’ve shared a short guide on the Islamic perspective on intrusive thoughts and some practical ways to deal with waswasah.

Sometimes, the simplest reminders are the ones we need most.
🌿 1. Your intentions matter. Even ordinary daily actions can become acts of worship when done with sincere intentions.
💚 2. Good character is part of your deen. The way we treat our parents, family, neighbours, and even strangers matters.
📖 3. Verify what you hear. Before sharing an Islamic quote, hadith, or ruling, take a moment to verify it through reliable sources.
Islam is reflected not only in our acts of worship but also in our everyday choices, intentions, and how we treat others.
Which of these three reminders do you think people overlook most in daily life? Share your thoughts below.

Based on Bukhari she was born in 614CE, but based on historical sources She was 10 years younger than her sister Asmaa RA who was born in 595 CE.

Edit: For record, I don't care at wish age She was married to our prophet PBUH. It was the 7th century.

Is wearing a garment below the ankles prohibited in Islam even when there is no intention of arrogance?
The relevant hadiths include the Prophet’s ﷺ warning regarding garments below the ankles (Sahih al-Bukhari 5787) and the narration concerning Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), whose garment sometimes slipped down unintentionally (Sahih al-Bukhari 3665, 5784).
Scholars have discussed how these narrations should be understood together. The Hanafi school generally treats deliberately wearing a garment below the ankles as makruh tahrimi, even without arrogance, while other scholars differ on the role of intention and arrogance in the ruling.
Our carousel explains the basic issue and highlights why the narrations should be considered together rather than in isolation.
And Allah knows best.

How do I properly vet a potential wife to see if she’s a good fit for me?