Q: As part of our marketing campaign towards promoting some of our products, we are looking at having a competition whereby the participant will have to correctly answer some questions to be entered into a draw for some prizes.

In the past, the entries would be sent to us by post. Now, we are looking at adding another dimension in which the entries can be sent to us by SMS. There will not be any additional charge for submitting the entry nor is there any entry fee. The only charge will be the standard SMS charge that is payable to the phone company. Would this be permissible?

Q: I wholesale a lot of the things I sell .As I do not have capital to keep stock on hand, I have few items at home. The way I work is when customers order, they pay and then I get the stock.

The reason I do this is because I had incidents where orders were placed and I got the stock and the people never came to collect. Someone told me now that I can't do this because I can't sell something I don't have. However my customers know that I get their stock once the payment is done. I do this also so that I don't borrow money and can't pay it back if customer doesn't take. I'm not misleading them to think that I have the stock they know I will get it after payment. Am I doing wrong? First my customer becomes regular I don't force payment before I get order as I know they will pay. It’s mostly with first time customers that I do not know. I deal over the phone I'm not in direct contact with the person and sometimes people are not honest so I'm just safeguarding myself.

Q: What is the ruling regarding copyright, etc?

Q: Will it be permissible to sell the Mandela five rand coin for more than five rands? The value of the coins depends on the grading of the coin which has a picture of Mandela on it. Some fetch up to R10 000.

Q: A parent had paid a certain Islamic school the non-refundable admission fee of R1000 on the acceptance of his child in the school. However, the child did not attend the school. Is the school obligated to refund the money?

Q: I have been receiving numerous requests from across the country to open branches of my business all over, since I have a unique business concept. However, because of the capital and the headache involved with the admin, I wish to start franchising/licensing out our concept.

I want to let my franchisees deal directly with my suppliers, and then ask them for a monthly commission/royalty based on purchases. This income will be to cover the set-up of an admin department to negotiate national prices. Is this allowed in Islam?

Q: Is it permissible to work for a company that does mainly Property Management Services like collecting rental etc (Which is halaal), however their clients are banks or insurance companies? Can you please advise on the above, and please let me know if you need any further information or if anything is unclear.

Q: Can you please advise as to whether the following Islamic Finance Products are Shariah compliant (Permissable):

1. FNB Islamic Finance Cheque Account & Youth Account
2. FNB Islamic Finance Vehicle Finance
3. FNB Property Finance

Q: Someone came to me to buy goods. I do not have it. I take his order and tell him that it will be shipped to him directly. The item costs me R100. I’ll sell it at R200. Is this permissible. If not, what is the way out?

Q: When is the contract (transaction) between a buyer and seller definitive?