Trade

Buying kitaabs online

Q:

A) I sent to emails to an islamicbooks website email saying

i) "Id like to order the following books to ** ******** Street ******** *** *** (Postcode). How much will it be with postage?"

ii) "I would like to order the following (these were names of kitabs) 1 ***** ***** 2 ***** ***** 3 **** ******* to this address ** ****************, *****, *******, *** ***, Can you send me the price of each one with total items postage? Jazakallahu khairaa"

B) Unfortunately without telling the price the books were shipped to my house.

C) After receiving the kitabs I have written some stuff in one kitaab.

D) Then (after writing) the price of the kitaabs and postage was told and the money was payed. I am happy with the books and price. Is it wajib for this bay to be cancelled?

Honouring one's promise

Q: Please advise if this was a valid transaction and if the buyer did anything wrong? A product was on sale, the buyer contacted the seller, a special price was made, there were only 2 products left but they had agreed a price and that the buyer will take it. Delivery address etc was confirmed and that the buyer would do the EFT tomorrow. The seller then emailed last minute to say that the units are sold and he is sorry. 1) Is it permissible for him to do this? The buyer then emailed the head office of the company in the USA with a complaint against the local dealer. The head office must have jacked up the seller, because now he contacted the buyer to go ahead with the sale 2) Was this permissible for the buyer to do, or was this forcing the seller into a sale unwillingly?

Selling items which are not declared

Q: I buy burqas from south africa to sell it back in my country. Not in a shop but personally. Now the law at the airport in my country is that if we bring any types of items for sale we should declare it and pay a tax on it (if they allow us to take it back from them). If i do not declare as such and sell them will the income that i will receive halaal?

Incomplete sale

Q: Mohammed and Abdul Kader own a business property on a 50/50 basis. Mohammed offers to sell 50% of his portion of the property to Abdul Kader for R1 250 000.00 which was to be paid cash. Abdul Kader accepts the offer but doesn't pay a cent. Is the sale complete? If Abdul Kader didn't pay, is Mohammed entitled to the rentals? Can Abdul Kader say that he is paying terms when the term period was not fixed or arranged with Mohammed?

The ruling pertaining to things which are halaal and haraam

Q: Please advise if the sale of the following is permissible and the income halaal:

1. Recipe books that contain some recipes with haraam items listed as ingredients, like pork or wine.

2. Medical books that contain some haraam treatments/methods. For example, in addition to all permissible things, a book with a chapter on yoga.

3. Books on topics like "Productivity","Leadership Skills", "Having a better life", "How to raise children" etc. written by kuffar and with their ideologies.

4. Sporting equipment like cricket bats, soccer-balls, surfboards, table-tennis tables, dart boards etc.

5. Items with the flag of a non-Muslim country on it. For example, a cell phone cover, a key ring, a sandal etc.

6. Purely futile and useless items, like decorative vases, expensive ornaments, doilies etc.

7. A person points out that many Deobandi Masaajid have TV's installed for Salaah times and notices. He says that when such high ranking 'Ulama have allowed TV's to be put up in the Masjid, and we do not see any other Ulama objecting to it (and also Ulama continue giving bayaans and having programs at such Masaajid) then it is therefore permissible for one to sell TV's. He adds that if Masjid funds can be used to buy a TV to put up in a Masjid, then why can't he sell TV's as the dual purpose of the TV is now clear with its incorporation in even the Masjid. Is this correct?

Pet food

Q: I have a supermarket and I am a retailer of basic food and groceries. I would like to know if it is permissible for me to sell any pet food (dogs and cats) as none of the variants (tin or dry) are halaal certified. Also as a pet owner, is it permissible for me to store and feed my pets these meals (dry or in a can)?