Trade

Price change in an item that was ordered

Q: A Muslim company confirmed the price of a product with me at R1800. They said stock will come in a few months.

A few months later the product comes and they say I must pay R2200. I said that you confirmed the price at R1800. The company says that price was then, and now it changed because of USD exchange rate. But previously he confirmed R1800 and never mention USD exchange rate.

I waited months to buy it from them and did not inquire elsewhere because they confirmed the price and my order at R1800.

Please advise:

(1) Is their action as above permissible?

(2) If permissible, is it in conformity with Islamic values? I am annoyed because I waited to buy it from them specifically at their confirmed price. I could have bought it elsewhere all these months.

Purchasing airtime advance

Q: Is it permissible to take out airtime advance with networks such as Vodacom and MTN?

Your account gets credited with airtime and you don't pay right away, but you are charged an extra service fee to get the airtime as you do not have to pay for it right away?

Buyer unsuccessful in contacting the supplier to pay off his debt

Q: I am inquiring in regards to business items I purchased from a supplier on a loan at a Business Expo. We had a mutual agreement to pay for the items on a later date. The supplier had provided me with his contact details to pay him back.

I had lost the suppliers number and cannot locate the person which I got the business items from. Also, I tried going to the Business Expo next year but the person did not come back the next year. I have tried going there for the past 4 years at the expo and the person has not come there. I am not sure if he has any relatives or friends either.

Please advise what I can do in regards to the money I owe him.

Sale of different currencies

Q: I am a collector and I collect banknotes from various countries. A few days ago, I bought a few foreign banknotes online from a website, I paid the amount and a few days later, the banknotes were delivered to me. Was this transaction haram as the purchase was not done hand to hand? And if it was haram, what am I required to do?

Favouring a contractor who is one's friend after closing a tender

Q: 3 Companies were invited to construct a building. They were invited which would mean that they are all of equal stature. We were all in by the client prior to the tender closing and where the client advised us of his needs. We received the tender results but were advised a few days later that all three prices were too high for the client. I asked asked if we could assist and negotiate with the client to lower our price to come in line with the client. We were then advised that the client had negotiated with the company that had the highest price. It is common knowledge that the client and this contractor are friends and possibly family. Is this Nepotism and is this allowed in Islam.

Earning by investing some money by liking and subscribing to different YouTube channels and uploading them to an app

Q: There is an online app in which you get a daily job by investing some money by liking and subscribing to different YouTube channels and uploading them to the app. It gives daily money on account of investment. Like invest 15000 rs and have to do 10 daily tasks and get 600 rs daily. Is it halal?

Trading in different currencies

Q: Zaid sent a parcel of GBP in cash to Bakr, with the intention of selling it to him for ZAR. Bakr inspected the notes, because some of them were old, and they both agreed on an exchange rate.

After a few days, Zaid subsequently sent his agent to collect ZAR notes from Bakr. Bakr did not give the entire amount. After a week, Bakr made an EFT of the remaining amount in ZAR.

(1) What is the status of the ZAR notes received from Bakr? If the money is haraam, what should be done with the money?

(2) What is the status of the money received via EFT from Bakr? If the money is haraam, what should be done with the money?