Business and Dealings

Q: Is it permissible to charge a general 15% handling fee for all returns for admin and transportation costs? 

E.g. The seller is in Durban and the buyer is in Johannesburg or Cape Town. The seller incurred admin and transport costs to get the goods delivered and will incur costs to get the goods returned. There could be various reasons for the returns - incorrect goods supplied, excess stock bought, damaged goods received, buyer cannot sell the goods etc. 

Q: With the recent conflict in the Middle East, we are bound to be worried. Recently, the President of Brazil had called out to the the President of South Africa stating that we should be prepared and ready as our country is at a risk of getting invaded. 

Some Ulama have called out in the Western Cape saying that we should stock up and store goods. 

My question is, is it permissible to buy in bulk and store items?

Q: On Amazon and other online stores, there's a type of installment payment that involves interest. The buyer takes out a loan from the bank to pay for the product in installments, and the store pays the seller upfront without any interest. The buyer pays the installment to the store, and the store pays the seller the full price of the product immediately. 

It's not possible to disable this payment option on these stores. 

Would it be legal to sell on these online stores?

Q: Our company will be taking the staff on a Team Building event for a few days. They have requested me to join as well. Meals and accommodation will be provided by the company. As this will be a social event involving joint group activities and tasks with both male and female staff members, is it permissible for me as a male to accompany them?

Q: Please advise with regard to the following aspects in connection with domestic helpers: 

1. Is it necessary to fix the daily/weekly times of work, or is it okay to have a casual arrangement, such as starting and finishing on flexible times, but getting the work completed? 

2. If there is an occasion or family function, the helpers are automatically expected and required to assist with all the set up and clean up etc. This can go up to late in the evening, even after 10 pm. Is this acceptable as part of the "understanding" between the parties that such events will come and the helpers will be required to work? 

3. The helper does not work on Sundays. If any occasion or family function falls on a Sunday, does the helper have to be separately remunerated for the Sunday work? 

4. Almost every few months, we have guests who stay for a few days. Sometimes, it is an entire family. This obviously increases the workload of the helper in many aspects, such as cleaning, washing and ironing of clothes, etc. Does this have to be separately remunerated? 

5. If in the past the worker was made to work overtime without any remuneration, or was given extra tasks which took more than the normal time, out of negligence and without realising that this was not correct in terms of shariah, how does one now make amends for this? 

If any helper worked in this manner and has left and there is no trace of the person, how does one make amends? 

6. Some helpers grudgingly accept a lesser amount than the general norm or what they are happy to work for, due to desperately wanting a job. How do I ascertain if the wage being paid is fair and I am not exploiting the helper in any way? Is there a way to determine what is fair and what is exploitation? 

7. Can salary be deducted for damage caused by the helper due to negligence or lack of due attention while engaging in the tasks? 

8. Any general advice with regard to employment and treatment of the domestic helpers will be much appreciated.

Q: If I go to the musjid and someone mistakenly took my shoe and lefts their shoe, Can I take that person's shoe?

Q: If a person purchases an item on a payment plan, agreeing to pay the price in fixed monthly installments over a set period, and the contract includes a clause stating that if the buyer defaults on any single installment, then the entire outstanding balance becomes immediately due and payable. Is such a condition valid and permissible?