business

Being unable to locate the seller to return the defective item

Q: I've bought an item on eBay and after receiving the item, I requested a refund for the money because it was not as stated. The money was returned and according to eBay policy, the seller is to pay the shipping fee for the return. I've been trying to get in touch with the seller for almost two months now but they have not responded. I would like to know what I am to do with the item I had previously bought?

Earning as a consultant

Q: I am a graduate engineer, and the Pakistan Engineering Council (as I am living in Pakistan and) gives all graduates in engineering a Supervisory certificate. This supervisory certificate is basically for the Contractors firm to hire us as it is mandatory for them to hire at least a minimum amount of engineers to get their self recognized with PEC (Pakistan Engineering Council) to be able to work properly here. It is basically a step to save engineers for un-employment. Now whats happening is here is that the contractors firm are now offering engineers to make a contract with them that they will show the PEC that they have hired you but you will not have to come for the job daily and you neither get the pay on a monthly basis, instead you will get a lump sum amount like about 70k or 80k at once and then the contract will be valid for 1 year and the deal is made that you may come to their project site whenever you want. Like basically you sell your contract for one year and show to PEC that you are working with the firm like a normal employee. Now I want to ask that I am working with a firm as a trainee engineer where my pay is just 8k only and I have not got the pay of last month yet, as our company is not good in paying their employees on time. I want to ask that if I make a contract with another company, and sell my supervisory certificate to them and take a lump some amount (Note: my company does not require a supervisory certificate) and I sometimes visit their project site, will it be Haram? As the last date of renewal of the contractor firm is 31st march, after that my supervisory certificate will be of no value. and I have not heard that any 1 engineer is hired by the contractor firm due to of their supervisory certificate. All of them sell the certificate. My friend has sold it, he says that we are not given our rights so we can do that. but I will do it only when , when I am sure that it is not haram. I do photography as a part time so I need some money to upgrade my camera. 

Working for a company that educates poor people about banking

Q: I have a question regarding working for a non-government organization(NGO). The name of the organization is swisscontact. This organization does not work for profit. They work in many sectors like, health, education, earning and so on. One of their work is to make awareness of the banking facilities to the poor who do not hold any bank account and unable to do regular banking activities.

I may get a job offer in this organization. My job will be to hire agents who will work in the field level to educate people about banking activities. My job will be to manage these agents who will create awareness among people about conventional banking. Conventional banking may include savings account, savings schemes, loans, etc.

There will be some banks who will have a contract with my organization (swisscontact). This is a project based work and it is donor funded. My organization doesn’t earn from the bank or interest. This organization runs its operations from donor money. Can I work for this Company in this role?

Giving a bribe

Q: I am a rep for a medicine company. We have to visit doctors to promote our medicines. The doctors are not receptive towards us until we give them a bribe. In this case, will it be permissible for us to give a bribe?

Bribery

Q: My question is a regarding business.

I have a store and sometimes I get some guys to buy from me goods for their organisation. (I have no idea who they are funded by). They will only bring to me business if I give them commision. So what I do is if I am selling something for 5000, I quote them 5500. After quote is accepted they give me 5500 and from there I will give them 500 as commision. I want to know is this a halal method? If not can you explain to me in detail a halal way so that we can carry on with business in our shariah way and follow the sunnats of our Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).