Trade

Supplier putting a condition that a sale cannot be cancelled once an item is ordered

Q: My supplier sends me pictures and specifications of items that he is selling via WhatsApp. Whatever items I want, I order via WhatsApp. Is it permissible for my supplier to put a condition that once I order an item, the order cannot be cancelled, or is stipulating such a condition zulm (oppression and extortion)?

Sale of a Person in Financial Constraints

Q: What is the ruling of Shari’ah in regard to a person who is in financial constraints and people (e.g. his creditors) take advantage of his situation? They are well aware that due to his situation, if they offer him an extremely low price for his goods, he will accept due to his desperation and sell it to them. An item worth R50 will easily be sold to them for R5. Is it permissible for them to ‘squeeze’ him in this manner, due to which they will get much more money from him than he actually owes them?

Purchasing products that have a cross

Q: As we have to buy products like sunscreens and medicine even from the non Muslims (if the ingredients are halaal), they sometimes put crosses on the packaging.For instance, a sunscreen package may have a cross, the same goes for some medicines or patches.

Is it considered haraam for us to buy such medicine or sunscreens if the packaging has a cross? 

Working in a business that sells traditional muti products

Q: At work, I'm one of the buyer's for the cash 'n carry. They sell these traditional muti products amongst many other cosmetics, sweets, household items. These traditional muti products like tokoloshe salts, oils, etc. have phrases such as "win the lotto", "bring back lost love", "go away evil", etc. on its packaging. Now I have to buy these products, price it, promote it and so on, amongst other items. I really feel uneasy about it as its wrong and impermissible to sell according to my weak understanding. I don't know how to approach the boss and inform him. And the more heartbreaking thing is that one of the biggest suppliers of these products is Muslim owned, and also many of our Muslim brothers have specialized shops selling these products. What should I do and is my earnings doubtful or haraam?

Purchaser demanding more money when cancelling the sale

Q: We had a sale agreement for our property five years ago with a person for 8 million rupees. He paid 2 million rupees in advance, and he promised that he will settle the balance of 6 million rupees after 6 months and complete the registration. However, he was unable to arrange the remaining amount of 6 million rupees. Now we are planning to sell the property to some other person. Therefore, I need to return the 2 million rupees to the person, but since it's been 5 years, he is now demanding more money instead of 2 million rupees. Do we need to pay the extra money?

Early settlement discount

Q: We have an arrangement with our supplier to pay his account, 2.5% discount on the 30th following the month of our purchases. Is this shariah compliant? If not, please explain in detail how we can rectify this arrangement so that we still enjoy the benefit of the discount.