Unpriced Items In Retail Stores

QUESTION:

Is the practice of not marking items for sale with prices on them, permissible in Shari’ah?

ANSWER:

Prices not being placed on items in a store can lead to disputes hence, it will not be permissible for store owners to operate in this manner.

قال العلامة ابن عابدين:

شرائط الصحة فخمسة و عشرون … معلومية المبيع و معلومية الثمن بما يرفع المنازعة

(رد المحتار،ج٧/ص١٦٣)

Note:

This is in the event that the store does not have a computerized barcode system which would give the fixed price, thereby removing the possibility of argument and dispute.

In the event that the store does have such a system in place, the buyer may dispute the price given to him and wish to haggle, which is against the norm in retail stores.

Also, other sectors of business, for example, wholesale and manufacturing prices have to be fixed also, as the price not being fixed can lead to disputes between buyer and seller, especially when there are price fluctuations and increases.

ALLAH KNOWS ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abrar Ahmad Motala

Date: 06 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1447 / 29 September 2025

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb