Question
Is it permissible to buy a house off-plan? The house is purchased before it has been built. The property is fully described and plans shown. On the basis of the plans the deal is made.
Answer
Buying a non-existing house is not permissible. The deal is baatil. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) prohibited selling what is ma'doom (not existing). Some Ulama of our time claim that it is permissible to buy off-plan. According to them it is classified as Istisna' which is permissible. However, non-existing property do not fall in this category.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 26 No 12
- PDF page
- 11
Appears under THE HUSBAND DENIES ISSUING TALAAQ (approximate).