Purchasing an unborn calf and goat
Q: Is it permissible to buy an unborn calf or goat in advance? In other words, a person says to the farmer, “I am purchasing the next calf that is born from your flock.”
Various masaail of Business and Dealings
Selling magazines, movies, etc.
Q: Is it permissible for me to sell movies in my shop? Also, some customers have asked me to start selling magazines. The magazines they want are mostly filled with pictures of almost naked women. Is it ok for me to sell magazines like this if I make sure I don’t read it myself?
Seller giving the purchaser an additional item with the sale
Q: Will the sale be permissible in Shari’ah if I give a free cellphone cover to every customer who buys a cellphone?
Selling an item without informing the customer that it is second-hand
Q: I run a cellphone counter in town. Sometimes I sell a phone to a customer and he changes his mind after a few days and comes to return it. If he also returns the original packaging with the phone, I put the phone back in the box and re-sell it as a new phone. Is this permissible in Islam?
Increasing the price of the goods in place of goodwill
Q: The stock, fittings, etc. in my business are worth R300 000. Is it permissible for me to charge R50 000 goodwill and sell my business for R350 000?
Registering a company name
Q: Is it permissible to register a company name? Once registered, nobody has the right to use this name except myself. Also, what is the ruling regarding registering a product name under my name? After this, nobody can give their product this name except myself.
Reason for the impermissibility of copyright
Q: Why is it not permissible to stop people from making and selling pirate copies of CD’s which have a copyright? If they are not stopped, the original person who worked and made the CD will lose a lot of money.
Car salesman arranging or assisting with finance
Q: I am a car salesman. At times, people come to me and wish to purchase cars from me. However, since they do not have the finance, they want to buy the car through the bank financing the deal. Can I assist them through submitting the application and arranging the finance for them from the bank?
Easter, Diwali, Christmas and Black Friday Sales
Q: Is it permissible for Muslims to have Easter, Diwali, Christmas, Black Friday sales, etc.? If it is not permissible, then what is the reason? Some Ulamaa say that this is emulation of the kuffaar. What does emulation of the kuffaar refer to?
Offer and acceptance of a business transaction through actions
Q: I recently read that a sale takes place with a verbal offer and acceptance from both parties. However, in today’s times, we notice that at the time of purchase, customers merely place the money on the counter while the cashiers hand over the goods without any words being exchanged. Will the sale be valid in these cases as no verbal offer and acceptance is apparently found?