Zaid buys and sells cellphones. Bakr offers him a phone for R1,000.

Answer

The transaction is permissible. It should be noted that the sale transaction came into being and was effected at the time when Zaid handed the phone to Amar and he in turn paid Zaid the R2,000. The sale was not transacted at the time when Amar had agreed to buy the not-yet acquired phone. Therefore, if Amar refuses to buy the phone when Zaid presents it to him, Zaid will have no case against him. Amar cannot be compelled to buy the phone despite the initial agreement which was a promise, not a sale transaction. At that juncture, Zaid did not own the phone, hence the question of selling it did not develop. One may sell only items which one owns and which are in one's possession.