Taking out a mobile contract

Q: There is a mobile company that has a promotion to purchase a phone in an 18 month scheme. Every month, we have to pay only 200 AED. 18x200=3600. The original price of the phone is 2700. The difference is 900. If I buy the phone at 2700 AED, then there is no calling or internet data packages. If I buy the phone on the contract, then I will get 1GB internet package, 200 local call minutes and 50 international call minutes. Is it permissible for me to buy the phone on contract?

Trimming the beard

Q: I am keeping a fist length beard Insha Allah as it is wajib. However I want to ask a question just out of curiosity regarding trimming the beard slightly shorter than a fist. Most Deobandi Ulama say it is Makrooh e Tahrimi, and if done continously it is a major sin. However in Shah Hakeem Akhtar Sahib's book it was written that to cut even a few millimetres of the beard shorter than a fist is GUNAH KABEERA (major sin)? So do you agree with Hakeem Akhtar sahib's statement?

Standing in Salaah next to a person who uses pig skin leather shoes

Q: In Europe leather men shoes have leather sole. Mostly this leather is from pork-leather since the sole has to be soft, and being soft is one of characteristic of pork-leather. Now it is that most Muslim buy such shoes and wear them. My question is since these shoes are commonly worn and we do not know exactly who wears them only that is very common, how should our behavior be in the rows of Salaah since people do stand feet to feet. Their socks do they become impure by wearing the shoes as inside the shoe there will some humidity after all, and people do touch each other with their feet i.e with the socks. Since this is a matter of Umoom al Balwaa what is the view of the Ulamaa on this issiue?

Supplying fuel at an inflated price during a fuel shortage

Q: We are currently experiencing a fuel shortage in the country. This has resulted in long queues at the petrol stations. I do not have a petrol station, but I am able to acquire large quantities of fuel that I sell to the public. However, because I am saving the people from waiting in the long queues at the stations, I charge a higher price for the fuel compared to the normal price. Is this allowed or is it exploitation?

Online auctions

Q: I would like to know if auctions are permissible in Islam. I run an online business and would like to add this function to my website. I will put an item with a reserve price and then people can bid to buy it.

Auctions

Q: I want to enquire regarding the following auctions:

1. Liquidation sale. A company has folded up and the company that is owed gives all the contents which they have taken to auctioneers to recover their debts.

2. Government sale. The government auctions off items belonging to people. People have imported containers and wrongfully declared or storage bills get too high and they abandon the shipments.

3. Houses get auctioned off as the people cannot pay the bond.

Is it permissible to buy from these types of auctions?

Investing in shares

Q: Mufti Saheb what is the ruling with regards to investing, buying shares eg telkom, mtn etc?

Is it the same as investing in the stock market? Then due to these companies been involved in interest it was not advisable to buy shares previously. So in that case what has changed? Also is it allowed to invest and get good returns, when you physically have not worked for the final amount? I ask this because if this wealth is used for Haj, will that Haj be accepted?