Trade

Drop Shipping

Q: Is the trading concept of 'Drop Shipping' permissible? If yes, please provide some tips/advice on the correct methods to use as a Muslim trader. There are a few issues that can occur. Examples:

-Seller does not have physical stock of the item.

-Seller does not see the condition of the item (as it goes directly to the customer).

-Seller may realize that the supplier is out of stock on an item after the customer makes a purchase.

Your assistance will greatly be appreciated.

Returning an Item

Q: I purchased an item from a certain Muslim business man. I no longer require the item. I produced my slip as required. I was refused a refund but was told to take something from the store to the value of the money spent. The fact is I don't require anything from that store.

Purchasing from Hindus

Q: I live in India and here Hindus have very different traditions like in front of the shops they smash some kind of fruits and lemons and coconuts and keep them at the corners of the entrance. So my question is am I allowed to go inside that shop and am I allowed to buy food products from that shop and I have also seen that shop has pictures of their idols and they do pooja over there. So sometimes used to eat from that shop. Was that haram and najis?

Purchasing a soft copy of a document

Q: I wish to purchase a set of notes from a company. Once I make payment via EFT, they will send me these notes via email. There is thus no physical product being exchanged, or the ability for me to 'return' anything. The notes are just a document made on Microsoft Word. Is it permissible for one to buy and sell 'soft copies' in this manner?

Using a credit card

Q: I have some money invested that are easily redeemable and have a credit card as well. When I become cash strapped I resort to the Credit card due to ease of access and I always try to pay up the debt on the credit card within 55 days as before this no interest is charged, however, buying/relying on this facility makes me feel impoverished and fearful of consuming things that I can pay for later. I am fearful. What do you advise me to do? Use the credit card and ensure that I always pay for the debt within the non-interest period or rather use off my saved money?