What is the religious ruling regarding some pharmacists offering discounts on priced medications, selling medicines below cost price, and insurance companies demanding high discounts? Is it permissible for a customer to purchase from a pharmacist who offers a lower price, even if the customer is aware of the pharmacist's violation?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is not permissible to set prices for goods under normal circumstances, according to the majority of scholars. Pharmacists and their customers may agree on a price that differs from what the ministry sets, unless this results in harm from the authorities. Expired medications that the state has ordered to be burned may not be sold or given away due to their harm. Selling medications for less than their cost price is permissible, unless it causes harm to others, in which case it is not.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/58006
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 58006
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy