What is the ruling on the dealings of a fertilizer company that sells one hundred tons of fertilizer of known type, description, and price for an indefinite period (delivery may be after one, two, three months, or more) when an excess quantity over export is available, knowing that the contract stipulates the customer's right to reclaim their paid money immediately without reduction or increase upon their request?
Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
This contract is not valid because it is a salam (forward) contract, and for its validity, the term must be specified, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever makes an advance payment (salaf) should make it for a known measure, a known weight, for a known term." (Agreed upon). Leaving the term vague until the quantity becomes available is an impermissible ambiguity. Furthermore, the condition that the buyer has the right to reclaim his capital whenever he wishes invalidates the contract and transforms it from a sale into a deposit or a loan.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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