"ڈراپ شپنگ بزنس کا شرعی تجزیہ"

A SHARIAH ANALYSIS OF THE DROP SHIPPING BUSINESS MODEL: THEORETICAL CRITIQUE AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION THROUGH A CASE STUDY

Abstract

The proliferation of e-commerce has popularized innovative, asset-light business models like drop shipping. This study conducts a comprehensive Shariah appraisal of the conventional drop shipping framework, interrogating its permissibility through the lens of Islamic commercial law (Fiqh al-Muʿāmalāt). Employing a qualitative methodology that integrates doctrinal analysis of primary sources—the Qurʾān, Sunnah, and classical juristic texts—with an applied case study of a contemporary drop shipping enterprise, the research identifies fundamental incompatibilities. The theoretical analysis establishes that the standard model contravenes core principles, most notably the prohibition of selling what one does not own (Bayʿ al-Maʿdūm) and the failure to fulfill the requisite possession (Qabḍ) prior to resale, while also introducing excessive uncertainty (Gharar) in delivery and quality. The in-depth case study of a Company  operationalizes these critiques, demonstrating precisely how these non-compliant elements manifest in practice—from contractual ambiguity and inventory risk to disclosure issues. In response, the paper does not merely conclude with impermissibility but constructs a proactive, Shariah-compliant alternative model. This paradigm redefines the drop shipper’s role from a principal seller to a transparent agent (Wakīl) of the end-client, working for a pre-disclosed commission (Ujrah), thereby aligning the transactional sequence with the validated contracts of Wakālah and Bayʿ. By bridging rigorous theoretical critique with empirical case analysis, this research provides both a decisive verdict on the prevailing model and a practical, ethically sound blueprint for Muslim entrepreneurs seeking to engage in modern digital commerce.