Question : A question was asked regarding whether it is permitted for Muslims to accept free offers given by shops to advertise their products.

Fatwa in Brief: This is not permitted to Muslims, as it is akin to gambling. And this [gambling] is known to be prohibited according to Islamic law.

Shaykh Ibn Baz, Majmu‘ Fatawa wa Maqalat, 19/398

Response:

The free offers given to a customer who buys a shop’s products are to be treated as gifts (hiba), from the seller to the buyer. In terms of the law, it is permitted (halal) to accept such offers because the substances themselves are not illegal and because we may consider them as bonuses [literally: sales or discounts].

Commentary:

These offers are given freely to customers that have bought a shop’s products. They [the offers] may be connected to the products, stored in the products’ cans/boxes, or offered to the customer separately from them. Such factors depending upon the quantity [and nature] of the products bought, and upon other circumstances. These offers contain no harm. They are gifts (hiba) from the seller to the buyer. The jurists (fuqaha’) permit the acceptance of harmless gifts [and this occasion fits within this category]. Legal principle dictates that it is permitted to accept such gifts because they are not offensive to Islam. Rather, they may be considered as deserved bonuses. Also, there is no gharar in this, as people are aware of the [nature of] the offer.

This method of advertising one’s product may not be compared with gambling. There are two kinds of prize that may be offered to someone who buys a product: [first] money and [second] any other form of gift. Through both kinds, the manufacturer seeks to raise awareness of its product, and to encourage more people to buy it.

This is very different from the illegalities perpetrated by some companies who print papers with specific numbers and sell these to people. This is a lottery (yanasib), which is illegal (haram). It is illegal because it is akin to gambling – people’s money is taken in exchange for nothing, without any legal justification, and at great risk. In contrast, these free offers are not bought. Rather, a customer pays for a specific product knowing that s/he will be rewarded with a free extra gift. This, in turn, encourages these customers to buy products from the company.[1]

And God knows best.

Shaykh Ibn al-‘Uthaymin said: Nowadays, companies award free offers for those who buy their products. We say that there is no harm in this, providing two conditions apply. First, the price of the product must not have been raised to include the price of the product offered alongside it. If the price has been raised, the buying of this product [plus the ‘free’ gift] is deemed similar to gambling and is considered illegal in Islam. The second condition is that the person buying the product should do out of genuine need, and not only for the sake of the free offer. For, in the second instance, it is merely a waste of money. [2] [In this respect] We have heard of people who have bought cartons of milk or cheese, which they have not wanted, only for the prizes offered with these products. He would buy the product and spill it in the market, or even somewhere in the house; and this is not permitted. It is a waste of money; and the Prophet (upon him be peace) has forbidden us from wasting our money.[3]

And God knows best.

Dr. Anas Abu Shadi