Q: I am a LP gas distributor. We supply retail and wholesale customers. We collect empty cylinders from the customers which are then exchanged for full cylinders. Customers only pay for the gas inside the cylinder. Sometimes customers return cylinders that still have gas inside for exchange. We are able to ask the retail customers if they want to return cylinders that still have gas inside as this is a loss to them. Most of them are fine with the loss. However, it is impossible to check with the wholesale customers as the cylinders are returned first to the wholesaler who then returns them to us. As a result we receive an average of 250-350 kg free gas per month.
1. Can we re-sell this gas that comes back from the customers?
2. If it is not permitted, what should we do regarding our past sales from this 'free' gas?
3. The retail store is run entirely by non-Muslim staff. Is it permissible for the shop to remain open during Jumuah?