Business and Dealings

Q: Is money made from wedding photography and an album shop halaal?

Q: When I was younger, I was involved in petty crime (theft). Now that I am older, I realise my wrongdoing, and want to know how can I repay this debt.

1. I often took money from my late-parents, without their knowledge. Now that they have passed away, how do I repay this debt?

2. I often took money from my late grandparents, without their knowledge. Now that they have passed away, how do I repay this debt?

3. I often took money from friends, without their knowledge. They are still alive, how do I repay this debt? Do I need to inform them of my transgression?

4. If I took R100, 20 years ago, what amount is due today? Is it the same amount or is there a calculation that I need to perform to allow for inflation?

Q: There is a website called hellopeter.com on which people review the service they received from various companies, list their complaints, grievances or even praise the service. Most of the postings are complaints against companies. The companies thereafter usually respond and try to resolve their issues. Sometimes the company or individual changed their ways, or got rid of a problem employee, but the negative reviews were not changed by the complainant. 

Another example is that of Google maps reviews, which often can have a negative impact on a business when customers complain.

Both these websites are public and the complaints visible to all.

Is it permissible to complain/write a negative review, using these methods, against companies or individuals, with the hope of resolving legitimate grievances, such as non delivery of a promised service and the like? Or would this amount to backbiting?

Q: My relative asked me to buy a washing machine for him. The washing machine cost R5000 for example. Can I inform my relative that the machine cost R7000? He does not know that I will charge him extra.

Q: Is one allowed to breed and sell cats?

Q: I own a business that sells camping gear. Is it permissible for me to sell my products via amazon.com? The Amazon company will handle the shipping and everything else.

Q:

1. Can I design products with logos of other brands and sell them online? Is that income halal for me? Especially if those brands are based in countries which are causing harm to Muslims and Islam?

2. Do I have to tell the buyers of these products that they are replicas, even if they are from a country which is harming Muslims and Islam?

Q:

1. A conventional banking company runs a competition where a car can be won. Entry to the competition is free and open to customers and non-customers of the bank. The banking company itself will be the entity awarding the prize, not the car company, nor any other entity associated. Is entering such a competition permissible?

2. Similarly, a bank is offering branded pencils, pens, rulers, key rings, notebooks, etc. as gifts to customers and non-customers for marketing purposes. Will this be permissible to accept and use?

Q: Is it permissible for one to give his merchandise to a rep to sell for him on the condition that his commission will be any profit he makes over and above the selling price?

Q: Luqmaan owns a business. Over and above the fixed salary which he pays each worker every month, he also gives his workers a percentage-based commission for the sales they do. This commission is a bonus over and above their set salary which is given to them as an incentive for working harder. Is this permissible?