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.

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?

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?

Q: One of our musullees is faced with the following situation. Please advise him on weather the following is Sharia’h compliant.

"I am employed as a store manager at one of South Africa's leading supermarket chain stores and the company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The company sells items from groceries, clothing, and all sorts of meat products and also sells wine and liquor. When I first started to work there in the year 2000, I was allocated (not free) shares in the company. I was then given a period of ten years in which to purchases these shares at below market value. The values of each share in 2000 was R32 and we as employees were allowed to purchase same at R30. However, the value of these shares currently (2010) is R50 per share; the company has allowed me to purchase the allotted shares at the year 2000 price of R30. The company has also allowed me to sell my share at R50 and pay for the shares at R30 and the difference of R20 be given to me in cash or reinvested and thereafter dividend would be paid out to me at the end of each financial year.

Talking the above situation in to account:

1. Could you advise me as to whether that above is Sharia’h Compliant?
2. If not, what could I do to make it Compliant.
3. Can my initial allocation of shares be interpreted as a perk or incentive that formed part of my work /remuneration package?
4. Can I hold shares in the company that I work for?
5. Is my remuneration as a Store Manager totally halaal given the fact that it took "hard work" to be promoted to same?

Your advice will highly be appreciated. Kindly treat this email as urgent. Looking forward to your reply, as soon as possible.

Q: I work at a mechanic shop the owner is muslim now sometimes while working on a car things break do I have to ask forgiveness for accidentally or intentionally breaking something like when I want to open a bolt a clip was in the way so i break it to move the bolt but others in the shop can open it without breaking it as they are more experienced then me so what do I have to do if I break something? When I break something the owner says its between me and the customer sometimes he wont tell them that something broke but he will lessen the price so what do I have to do if I break something?

Q: I damaged peoples property etc. I wish to pay for it. 

1. Will it be valid if I give them the money via a post office?
2. Paying an account of the person that I have access to?

Q: When I go to someones house e.g. family, friends, etc. and by using their chair or something else and it breaks. a) If they do not tell me to pay for it do I need to pay for it? b) If they tell me to pay for it do I need to?

Q: During my schooling career, I damaged the school text books, etc. Does my school fees cover this or do I need to pay the school? 

Q: My mother knew I was owing someone money so when the person came to buy from the place she works, she gave a discount which I paid. I only knew of this when she told me which was after she sold the item with a discount. So will this be valid?

Q: I would like some assistance in how to explain to non muslims about the differences between the western system of business and finance and the islamic system. I know the main difference is that islam does not permit/allow dealing in interest in any way. The thing is that these kaafirs rely on Jewish economists who use fancy, complicated terms to "prove" their theories etc..

These guys who I speak to, say that this is the way it is and if we want to be successful then we have play the game intelligently. I keep telling them that there is an alternative but I dont know how to present it to them in a simple way.

normal muslims like me will just tell them that "Allah ta'ala says... in the Quran & our prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said ..." this is not going to make sense to them or satisfy them. So, how can I explain to them the differences between the two systems and show clearly the benefits of the Islamic system?