Trade

Q: I've a question which keeps disturbing me. Before traveling to another city where my mom lives, I bought an abaya from a local shop in Jeddah for my mother. Unfortunately that abaya was not my mom's size. After 2 weeks my husband and I went to the shop and returned it but the shopkeeper was reluctant to take it back and when he got to know that it's been weeks he refused to take it back because he didn't want to give us the cash back. When my husband persuaded him he said okay if you bring back the box in which the abaya came I'd take it back. the box was of almost no monetary value and he had tons of it in his shop and usually people don't take boxes with them they just take the abaya in a bag. We had the abaya in the bag and the abaya was never worn but he wouldn't agree. He just didn't want to take it back. My husband was very polite in the beginning but then he got angry and with some argument the shopkeeper cut 10% from the original cost and gave us the cash back very rudely. My husband said to his face that bengalis are bad people, I tried to stop my husband but he was way too angry. The shopkeeper said that I'll see you on the judgment day and take my money. It's been 2-3 months but I still feel guilty. I dunno if we were at right or wrong? Should We return the shopkeeper his money or should we let it go? Usually there no conditions on return or exchange. And abayas are sold too quickly so even if you got an abaya on order you can return and it and get another. I dunno law of shariah here. I just want to know that if the money was not haram for us because my husband forced the shopkeeper.

Q: I'm doing business of non alcoholic perfumes and Attars. The fragrances, which I sell come from a company in india (total hindus), keva fragrances. This company also uses synthetic animal derivatives such as civet oil, etc. in their perfume oils. They said, we can give halal declaration of any product, but did not show any halal certification. 

Secondly, this company is partly owned by blackstone, a giant company of USA, which deals in real estate, credit, equity, etc. involving interest as well. My question is that whether it is preferable to sell their products to earn, as they are strict Hindus and might be involved directly or indirectly in interest also. Secondly, the use of synthetic animal derivatives in fragrances are halal to use and sell?

Q: I went to a college in 2015 and for three months I missed payments to them. I want to pay it back now but I only want to pay for two months. Because the one month we did not do much work and they wasted my time. Can I pay for two months or do I have to pay for all three months? They have no record of it, and they are not asking. But I know that I missed three payments. Do I have to pay for it or must leave it?

Q: I work at a company that sells wooden boards. Carpenters come to us with the measurements of the customer’s job, then we use a computer program to work out how many boards the customer will require. Sometimes, the customer only requires two boards but the carpenter asks us to charge him for three boards. The customer thinks that he needs three boards and is paying for three, whereas he only needs two and is only receiving two while the carpenter takes the money from us quietly for the third board. My boss says that we are not doing anything wrong because the carpenter is taking the money and we are not taking anything. Is this permissible?

Q: Is it permissible for a Muslim the trading of non-halaal goat and beef meat (animal is not slaughtered the halaal way), from a non-Muslim trader to non-muslim buyers?

Q: I am retailing make up and have an item in stock which is a lipstick that contains alcohol. Is it permissible to sell or use?

Q: I have a query regarding the payment options of my son’s school fees. Please advise whether the following option is permissible:

Pay in full by the first Friday of February and receive a 5% discount. This amounts to R12 350 for the year instead of R13 000 if I have to split the fee over each school term or per month. The various payment plans are as follows:

1. As detailed above with 5% discount = R12 350 per annum

2. An amount of R3250 per school term = R13 000 per annum

3. An amount of R1300 per month for 10 months (Jan-Oct) = R13 000 per annum

Q: If I make a video and I upload it on YouTube, when people watch that video then I receive money for that, if that video does not include animate objects and only my voice is included with that video, is this money legal in Islam?

Q: A friend and I want to sell cars together. He has the experience in buying and I have the cash. This is how we wish to work.

1. He will find me the right car that is worth buying to resell.

2. I must buy the car myself with my money.

3. He will find me buyers.

4. I must sell the car myself to the buyer.

5. He (my friend) will get a cut from the profit of the sale.

Is this way of dealing correct? He will not put money in, but will basically do the work of finding the supply and buyers. I must do all transactions, If I loose for some reason he will not share the loss. He will only take a share in the profit of a winning deal.

Q: Is share trading (equity, commodity, derivative, currency) permissible in Islam?