Business and Dealings

Q: Is it permissible to play the lotto in order to use the prize money as a loan to start a business? Once a profit is made, money equalling the lotto amount will be given away in charity.

Q:

1. Often, when tenants vacate the premises, they leave items behind. Is the landlord entitled to sell these items and keep the money?

2. In the event of a tenant absconding while owing the landlord rentals and other ancillary charges, can the landlord sell these items to recover his money? Is it necessary for him to inform the tenant?

Q: Can a male become a gynaecologist?

Q: I have R1000 worth of R100 notes. However, these are the old notes and I want to change them for the new R100 notes. The agent said that he will change the old notes for the new notes, but he will charge me R10. Is this permissible?

Q: Some online retailers clearly mention that the item is not in stock, and they will acquire it for the customer from the supplier. In this case, what should one do?

Q: Online retailers often sell items that they don’t keep in stock. They conclude the sale and take payment immediately and thereafter acquire the item from the supplier and deliver it to you. Similarly, when hardware stores sell bricks to customers, they conclude the sale and accept payment immediately. Thereafter, they buy the bricks from the supplier and ask the supplier to deliver directly to the customer. Is it permissible to deal in this manner?

Q: I sold a house for R500 000 on credit and told the customer to pay R50 000 per month over ten months. The customer paid me for the first five months and then passed away. Is it permissible for me to immediately claim the outstanding R250 000 from the heirs or do they still have five months to pay?

Q: My father sold a car for R100 000 on credit and the terms were that the customer would pay R25 000 per month over four months. My father has passed away and it is two months since he concluded the sale. Can we make the customer pay the remaining R50 000 immediately or does he still have two months left to pay?

Q: I sell scarves and kaftans over the internet. I had a customer from another country who purchased scarves from me in September. She sent the money to me via internet transfer and I then sent her goods via Air Mail through the South African Post Office. She has since not received her goods and is asking for a refund. I received proof from the post office showing that the parcel was put onto an SAA flight to her country on 17 September 2013. However, when she went to the post office, they said that they have not received the goods. Who is responsible for the loss? I did as asked and sent the goods via post office which she paid for. She is asking for a full refund, but what about the loss to me for my stock?

Q:

1. I have a friend that buys euros from me. He usually buys from me because I give him facilities to pay. For example, I sell him 20 000 euros at 13 rand equal to R260 000 and he pays in 5 months cheques in rands.

2. This friend lives in a city 300km away and his neighbour also sells euros. Sometimes, when my friend wants euros, I sell them to him. Then I give him the rands to buy the euros on my behalf from his neighbour. My friend then pays me back for these euros later on. Is this allowed?

3. If I give him the rands to buy euros on my behalf, but he does not buy the euros and instead keeps the rands for other transactions, is it my responsibility?