Business and Dealings

Q: I have a contract with a teacher. She said that she will teach me 5 days a week (20 days in a month) for 1 hour on video call and I have to give her 160 riyals. But she taught me only 7 days in the month and less than half hour, not video call just sending voice recording on WhatsApp.

Can I give her less money, only 100 riyal for 7 days. She is asking 160 riyal claiming that the days I did not teach you, you can revise what I thaught you before.

Q: I recently read that a sale takes place with a verbal offer and acceptance from both parties. However, in today’s times, we notice that at the time of purchase, customers merely place the money on the counter while the cashiers hand over the goods without any words being exchanged.  Will the sale be valid in these cases as no verbal offer and acceptance is apparently found?

Q: I am a Muslim woman. Currently I am going through a lot of troubled times as I lost my job in Dec 2018. I didn't want to be a burden to my parents so I had taken a house for rent close to my office and have been staying alone even after I lost my job. All this while I managed by some savings I had. Now I desperately need a job to pay my rent and bills. I have been worried and praying to Allah. In the house where I stay, it has been 2 years that I am here but had never heard azan till now since there isn't a masjid nearby. But today, all of sudden, I heard azan between Magrib and Isha time. I'm sure this wasn't Magrib or Isha azan. I was surprised to hear it as it is the first time in 2years I have heard it. Can this mean something? Is it some kind of a sign from Allah? What does it mean?

Q: My father works in an insurance company which is being run by Muslims and follows Muslim laws. He himself is an insurance agent who does insurance of different people and the more people participate, the more commission he gets. I want to know whether the money he earns is considered halal? Because the insurance policies he introduces gives that person money time by time.

Q: Following a divorce, what is the law on jewellery? Who becomes the rightful owner?

Q: Can a rich Muslim apply for minority scholarship given by government for higher education?

Q: Is an income benefit/provider insurance policy allowed whereby one will receive an income if disabled and cannot work. At the age of retirement the policy will lapse with no benefit.

Q: I purchased 3 abayas from a lady online. All 3 turned out short even after giving measurements. She tried to fix them but changed the look of the abaya I ordered (it does not look like the original picture). When I received it, they were dumped in a bag. When I called her to say its a slim fit and short and I cannot wear it like this, she asked where her abayas were, to which she responded "oh god". She said her abayas are tailored so it will seem short irrespect of my size, so couldn't she inform me of this? So I could then say... make it bigger, looser and longer as I am in niqaab and cannot leave the house with immodest abayas. She then says why I didn't tell her I'm in niqaab. Being in niqaab or not doesn't matter when purchasing an abaya. I want to send them back to her but she is ignoring me and my messages and refuses to send me her address. The abayas cost R3049 and she doesn't seem bothered that her customer isn't happy. I mentioned that I'm not asking for a refund but that she takes the abayas back and give me the correct sizes but she refuses. Please advise going forward as I havent been rude to her at all but shes been abrupt and not accommodating.

Q: I am currently employed by taking ID photos of people that want to make ID documents or want to renew their drivers licence. Am I commiting a sin? I have no other work to support myself or my family. Currently there is a demand for ID photos in my town. Even Muslim people come to me for photos for passports. Please advice me. 

Q: An online store offers a discount, say 10%, if the buyer pays using a credit card. The discount is not available if the buyer pays using other means such as a debit card. Following are the questions:

1. Is it jaiz to avail this discount?

2. If it is not jaiz to avail this discount then what should the buyer do in case he has already availed this discount in the past?

3. If the only mode of payment offered by the store is credit card and a discount is being offered on a specific card, say VISA, then will it be jaiz to make payment using this credit card?