Business and Dealings

Q: I had 2 clients, client A, who wished to buy a property. The client had an agreement with the seller to purchase a property being sold for R900 000. Client A wanted to get bank finance for the shortfall on the purchase price. We advised against it. We spoke to client B, who had R100 000 to invest. We brought both the parties together. Client B agreed to buy 1/9 of the property. Within a month client B agreed to sell his share at R120 000, an agreed of repayment was made and met.

Is the transaction a valid shariah agreement.

Q: I have a friend at work who is friends with another colleague that is extremely jealous of me and is always putting nazr on me, I've read duas for protection especially when around that person but found it best to also stay away. I tried speaking to my friend and she feels as a Muslim she cannot abandon another Muslim even if they are not good company and she likes being around that person because of the things that person spoils my friend with.

Is it wrong Islamically for me to disassociate myself from my friend because of this?

Q: I have taken some money from a friend from Australia. While taking the money, I planned to work abroad so that I can earn big amounts and pay back the money. I want to ask that now I am not in a condition to return the money. Is that a sin for me? What should I do? The person hasn't asked me for the money, and knows that I am not in a financial condition to return the money.

Q: My question is, "The tenants of mosque shops are not ready to pay rent at the current prevailing market rates. Their argument is that they have been leasing these properties for generations. I am seeking a fatwa as a solution to this matter. The shops were initially under an agreement process. Please advise."

Q: I often sell goods on lay-by. It is becoming more frequent that the buyer cancels the lay-by after having paid part of the agreed amount. I then refund him the paid amount.

When this happens, is it permissible for me to charge the buyer a handling fee or admin fee of say 10%?

Q: I have a tenant who is renting from me and he has game machines in his shop which people put money into it to play. Now my tenant wants to put a slot machine where a player puts money inside and the player then wins money from the machine.

Is it permissible for me to allow the tenant to put such a machine in the shop?

Q: We purchased a property in a syndicate and the money held by the lawyers as a guarantee was invested in a money market account and accrued interest.

Can this money be used to offset the lawyers fee or does it have to be given out with no intention.

Q: I plan on becoming an event planner. If I am asked to do the setup for a birthday party,would that be allowed from an Islamic perspective.

Q: I currently run a printing business where I print tissue paper for businesses. This will have their logo printed onto it so they can use this for packaging products.

Occassionly I get orders such as a logo and 'Christmas at Next' written underneath. Is it permissible to print this or not?

Q: I wanted to ask if it is permissible for one to lease out a shop to a non-Muslim who wants to sell fireworks for November, December and January. He then wants to continue selling furniture.