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?
Q: Is the trading concept of ‘drop shipping’ permissible? In ‘drop shipping’, the trader does not keep stock of any item. Instead, he accepts payment for the goods and then forwards the customer’s details to the supplier who will deliver directly to the customer. ‘Drop shipping’ is commonly found in online shopping. Is this permissible?
Q: A person wants to run his clothing business through online retail platforms. To display the products, he will have to take photos of live human models wearing the clothing and other items. Is this allowed? If not, can mannequins with the heads be used?
Q: I know a person who imports goods from China. He is offering to sell one of his containers to me. The problem is, I don’t know what goods are in the container, and if I buy it, I will have to sign a clause that I won’t be able to return it to him. Is this sale valid in Shari’ah?
Q: Many customers buy groceries from my store on account and pay me at the end of the month. Will the sale be valid as the customers often don’t know the prices of the items they are taking?
Q: There is a small supermarket around the corner from where I live. When we need anything, we phone them and they deliver it to us. They send the bill to us for the entire month’s groceries at the end of the month. What is the law of Shari’ah regarding this type of sale?
Q: I bought a plot of land with terms of 18 months, but due to some reason, I could not pay the full amount on time. The seller is now saying that since I did not pay him the full amount within the time period, he will cancel the deal, unless I pay him an additional amount. Does he have the right to do this?
Q: Is the barber also accountable for cutting the beard of this customer if the customer demands so, is it haraam?