Is It Permissible in the Shafi‘i School to Sell Print-on-Demand Products?

Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Carr

Question 

Is it permissible in the Shafi‘i School to sell print-on-demand products where I don’t possess the item, but instead design it, advertise it, and receive a percentage after the printing company ships it to the customer?

ِAnswer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Thank you for your question.

Possession of the item being sold is only required when selling a specific (mu‘ayyan) item. In the case above, you are selling an item specified in your seat of responsibility (mawsuf), which is permissible even though the item does not physically exist at the time of the sale [Khatib, Mughni al-Muhtaj]

Since this is a white-label approach, the contract consists of two separate tiers, each independent of the other:

1. The sale of the item to the client
2. The production of the item

The first tier involves the sale of a specified item (mawsuf), while the second concerns an employment and delivery arrangement—both of which are permissible, provided their respective conditions are met.

What Are Print-on-Demand Products?

Print-on-demand (POD for short) is an order fulfillment method where you design products and your POD partner company prints and ships the goods to your customers on your behalf. This is a white-label approach, meaning that there’s no mention of your partner on the product or packaging—all the credit goes to you.

Print-on-demand services fulfill a product only once an order has been made. This way, there’s no wasted stock that ends up in landfills. Plus, you pay your print provider after the customer has paid for their order. That’s why there’s no upfront cost to get started with print-on-demand. [printful.com]

I pray this is of benefit and Allah guides us all.

[Shaykh] Muhammad Carr
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib

Shaykh Muhammad Carr has dedicated his life to studying and transmitting our beautiful deen. His studies have taken him around the globe, where he has benefitted from many luminaries. Under the guidance of his teachers – Shaykh Taha Karan, Shaykh Yaseen Abbas, Shaykh Muadh Ali, and many others – Shaykh Muhammad has grown to appreciate the beauty and benefits of diverse scholarship. He completed his memorization of the Qur’an at Dar al-Ulum Zakariyyah in September 1997 and received an Alimiyya Degree in 2006 from DUAI (Darul Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah). He is also affiliated with Masjid Auwal in Bo Kaap, Cape Town (the oldest mosque in South Africa), where he serves as a co-imam, and Dar Al-Safa, where he has taught since 2018. As a teacher, he imparts the wisdom of our heritage and tradition by opening the door for students. As an imam, he has the unique opportunity to serve his community in daily life.

In addition to his roles as a teacher and imam, Shaykh Muhammad Carr has contributed significantly to the administrative and advisory aspects of Islamic institutions. Since 2023, he has served as the Administrative Director at The Imam Kurani Institute, contributing to the institution’s growth and development. He continues to pursue traditional Islamic Sciences, possessing a keen interest in Islamic Contract Law and Finance. Shaykh Muhammad has been a Shari’ah Board Member for Islamic Asset Management & Insurance Companies since 2001, aligning financial practices with Islamic principles.