Business and Dealings

Q: I want to work as a fitness instructor, but I have been told that it is haraam because I will be training women and they will be dressing inappropriately. Is it permissible for me to take up this job?

Q: Please advise regarding gifts to the new born baby, if unclear as to whom gift is addressed to, if the gift is returned and parents buy other things for the baby is this permissible?

Q: I have set up Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts for my company. I have installed both ‘image-blocking’ and ‘advert-blocking’ software on my internet browser that blocks all images and adverts which may appear on any site – but specifically for Twitter, Facebook, etc. Furthermore, my Twitter and Facebook accounts are linked – meaning that whatever I post on one site, will automatically appear on the other. I can do this for Instagram as well. Hence, my interaction with these sites will be kept to the minimum. I have set up these social media accounts for general marketing purposes and interacting with customers, etc. As the business is an online one with probably all the customers being international, this manner of interaction/advertising is probably most suitable for the technological nature of the company. In light of these precautions, can I make use of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for this express, business purpose?

Q: For what purpose can we use interest from bank?

Q: I would like to know if its permissible to sell computer based training (e.g. video training for microsoft word etc). It is not software, but videos that teach an individual how to work with that software. However it may have copyrights by an international company. It is not sold in south africa because it is very very expensive eg. R3000 and as you know education is expensive here. My main aim is to sell it to those who can't afford training and to help overcome south africas skills problem by educating people. The price I'll be selling will be close to nothing eg R80. The profit is for my time taken. I would like to know if this is permissible even if I do it without the companies permission. I obtained the material for free. All I'm doing is making copies and distributing it.

Q: Some time back I purchased some mtn Zakhele shares. Are these shares halaal?

Q: I want to know that I am going to plan to have a Muslim restaurant in a non-Muslim country in partnership with another non-Muslim person. Wine and beer is common to drink. Can my partner can sell on his behalf in that restaurant which we both own? (the profit from wine and beer will belong to him only).

Q: Will it be correct to use a marketing "catch line" that is not applicable to that type of trade e.g. a person selling motor vehicles that he owns or a company selling foreign currency that it owns, markets the sale of these products as a "zero percent commission" sale when in fact commission is not applicable in this sale as there is no agency involved. This however creates the impression of an excellent deal psychologically.

Q: There is a Muslim publication that caters for people seeking jobs. Can this publication post an advert for an establishment seeking a bartender?

Q: I work in the stock-buying department of a certain supermarket. Recently, they added the deli department to my portfolio. Now, I have to deal with buying and selling pork and its derivatives. Is it permissible for me to do this?