Does Islam Permit Paying a Print Provider in Advance When Etsy Withholds Payments?

Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Carr

Question

Is paying a print provider in advance acceptable, given that Etsy withholds customer payments for several days or weeks and deducts fees before releasing the funds?

Answer

Thank you for your question.

May Allah reward you for ensuring that your dealings are by Islamic Law.

Allah says,

“O you who believe, fulfill your binding obligations.” [Quran, 5:1]

The Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“The best of you are those that are best in fulfilling their obligations.” [Bukhari]

Based on the above narration, paying a print provider in advance is not only permissible but also recommended. Additionally, remember that your obligation to the print provider is independent of your arrangement with the customer.

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 to 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‘a Board Member for Islamic Asset Management & Insurance Companies since 2001, aligning financial practices with Islamic principles.