Trade

Charging the client for the delivery note

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?

Selling agharbatti and muti products

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?

Selling wigs

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.

Round Tripping

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?

Reselling an item at a higher price

Q: My husband is working in a private Afghan company that stores oil for America. Sometimes the Americans ask my husband for some goods like paint, furniture or other things. My husband asks the price from the shopkeeper and buys the goods then gives the goods with an increased price to the Americans.

For example, the furniture price is 300 dollars and my husband gives the price as 500 dollars, even the Americans know the real price but they accept the price that my husband gives.

I told my husband that this money is haram but he says that I am not their employee, I work for another company. They ask me to buy goods for them and I give them a quotation then they buy it. This is business. I don't directly tell them that I increased the price but they know. They accept it because they trust me and they need one person to do their work for them since they can't directly buy those things. I spend my time and effort for them in getting those things so the money is not haram. Kindly tell me whether the money my husband charges them is haram or halal.