Trade

Q: I ordered an item from overseas. When ordering, they offer you various shipment options, such as couriers, post office, etc., with various pricings.

1. Does this make me responsible if the post office loses the item, because I chose who I want to deliver the item to me, making them like my wakeel to accept the item and transport it to me. However, on the other hand, the seller still remains in control of the shipment since they sent it. For a lost parcel the seller will have to contact the post office and submit the claim, etc. not me.

2. The parcel disappeared, it seemed to be lost. The seller sent a new item by courier, which reached me within a week. The seller (non Muslim) will make a insurance claim for the 1st item from the post office. Can I use this 2nd item they sent me?

3. A few months later the first item arrived in the post. However customs want a payment of R1000 to release it. I need this shipment to be sent back to the seller because I have already received the 2nd parcel they sent, and this is extra. Who will have to pay for the return shipping and customs fees?

Q: Some airlines, while making reservations, offer the option of paying additional charges to make a non-refundable and non-changeable ticket become a refundable and changeable ticket. Is this extra payment permissible?

Q: Is it permissible to sell the sperm of animals in a straw to people who will use it to artificially inseminate their animals?

Q: Zaid (a wholesaler) sold goods on credit to the value of R100 000 to Amr (a retailer) on 15 January 2018. The goods were delivered on the same day and the customer’s copy of the delivery note was signed by Amr and given to him for his records with the goods that were delivered to him on the same day. On 26 February 2018 the amount owed for the goods was still outstanding and Amr realised that his goods receiving clerk misplaced the delivery note that was given with the goods. Amr was very concerned that his auditors will insist on inspecting the copy of the delivery note so he quickly contacted Zaid and requested a copy of the delivery note that the supplier normally keeps. Zaid informed Amr that his company’s policy is to charge R100 for this request as it requires the time of his admin clerk who has to leave whatever work he is doing and now attend to searching through the company records, locating that particular delivery note, then scanning it and emailing it. Amr is very happy to pay the R100 fee so long as he gets a copy of the delivery note.

Is it permissible for Zaid to charge Amr this agreed upon fee for the copy of the delivery note?

Q:

1. Please advise if it's permissable for one to sell traditional muti products, such as tokoloshe salts, oils, soaps, etc, many of which has the following phrases on them (go away evil, money drawing, sangoma, luck , etc.)?

2. Is it permissible for one to sell agarbattis with the same phrases as above?

3. I work for a wholesaler that sells these products together with many other cosmetic products, part of my job is to purchase, sell, capture on the system and promote these products, is my earnings haraam?

Q: Is it allowed to sell human hair as wigs as well as plastic hair as wigs which is sold in cosmetic shops. I understand that there is some fatwa regarding it but to my understanding the Hadith states that we cannot sell it or wear it. Please clarify the matter.

Q: I am working in a company who has a price listed for items. I am in the sales department. Is it halal for me to buy products at a listed price from my own company and sell these products in the market at profit by not affecting the company's clients or sales volumes? Is getting profit for me in this way halal or not?

Q: Some stores give a card to frequent customers. They give items to card holders for lower prices than other people, and when the items are purchased, they get points which can be used in future to buy things for free from them. Is this allowed?

Q: Many businesses today engage in something called “round tripping”. What they do is purchase goods, thereafter they mark the goods for export and claim the vat back, while the actual goods are not exported but are instead sold locally.

From my understanding, in the process, there are lies spoken (lying to suppliers by saying that the goods are going over the border), bribes are given (a payment is made to border officials and revenue officials to stamp documents and release payments from the revenue services) and corruption is taking place. Is this practice allowed in Islam and is it permissible for us to purchase from these businesses?