Using the App "Too Good To Go"

Question

Hello! I wanted to know if it is permissible to use an app called Too Good To Go, its premise is preventing food from going to waste by selling items for 1/3 of their normal price, but the catch is that they are sold as a mystery bag and as such one would only have a vague idea of what's inside. Many places offer this now whether it’s restaurants, cafes or supermarkets. Its idea is beautiful in terms of preventing waste which is something Muslims should strive towards, however I am not sure if the mystery portion of it counts as gambling or not because for one you risk buying something you don’t like but you are always getting ~3x the value you pay for and if a bag doesn’t give you ~3x value you can report them through the app. In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Answer

As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

In principle, it is not permissible to buy or sell an item which is ambiguous. However, if the ambiguity is not major, i.e., the buyer has a definitive idea of what he is buying or what the value may be and the ambiguity is such that it will not lead to dispute, then it will be permissible to purchase such an ambiguous item, such as a defined mystery box or bag.

I have downloaded the app in question and explored through it. I understand that you order a mystery bag from a specific restaurant or store of your choice. You will receive anything from that store worth the listed price but you will only pay one-third of that price. While there may be more ambiguity in ordering from larger stores due to their variety or larger menu, it may be overlooked as the customer would have an idea of what he can expect based on what the establishment sells and he would know the store value of the received items. Such ambiguity would not generally lead to disputes due to the policies in place. Accordingly, it will be permissible to order using Too Good To Go provided that one orders from a halaal store.

And Allaah Ta'aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury