Purchasing from a store where the money goes towards a church
Q: Can you purchase from a store where the money goes towards their church?
Store is fully owned and run by a Christian lady
Business and Dealings
Opening a bank account in order to receive interest
Q: If I have a choice on whether my bank account will earn interest or not which is better to choose? If I earn the interest I will donate it to the poor and someone will benefit. If I don’t take the interest the bank will benefit.
Building an online platform where gaming organizations host skill-based tournaments and charge an entry fee
Q: Is it permissible to build an online platform where gaming organizations can host skill-based tournaments and charge an entry fee per slot? I am not playing the game myself — I am only providing the technology as a service and taking a small platform fee. Is this halal?"
Charging a fee to join a tournament on a PC game and giving prizes
Q: I host tournaments on a game called Fortnite. People pay me a fee. Everyone to take part in these tournaments, and I pick a few of them every weekend to take part in the tournament. I give the top 3 prizes and sometimes cash rewards, prizes like perfumes, clothes etc.
Is this what I am doing halaal earned money, I make profit of this too.
"Price adjustment" when shopping online
Q: When shopping online (Temu etc.), certain companies have something called "price adjustment". It is a benefit which gives the buyer back the difference in his previous purchase compared to the current price which is received by the buyer as credit in his account.
For example, I purchased an item for R70. One week later it is R50 on the same online store. Using price adjustment one can claim back R20 as credit only to be used on that online store. Is it permissible to take that credit?
Forgetting to inform the customer of the different sizes of the item for sale
Q: I sell products online through Etsy. I sold a desk mat through Bay‘ al-Salam. The mat has three sizes, but I accidentally forgot to add the size variations to the listing. The displayed price was for the smallest size, and I delivered that smallest size to the customer. I did not intend to deceive the customer; it was an honest mistake. The customer accepted the item without requesting a refund.
Is the Salam transaction valid, and is my earning halal? Does the hadith that Allah has pardoned mistakes and forgetfulness apply in this situation?
Opening a bank account that accrues interest
Q: Is it permissible to have a Capitec bank account? All Capitec bank accounts (global one) pay out interest regardless of the account type. It's not possible to stop this even if one asks them.
Is it permissible to open this account? Then to give away the interest to some poor people or relief organisation without hope of reward.
There are other banks who have interest free accounts.
Using the FNB "Entertainer" app
Q: Could you please advise on the permissibility of using the "Entertainer" app that FNB offers free to account holders?
1. The app gives discount vouchers, discounts and offers e.g. buy one get one free at entertainment places or a discount of 20% off a drink or meal etc.
2. It is not sold separately to FNB clients and there is no extra monthly fee, just the standard bank account fees.
Shopkeeper allowing one to take items and put the money in the till
Q: I work as a teacher at a Madrasah. The Madrasah has a tuckshop. When I buy from the tuckshop, the shopkeeper (an elderly Moulana) allows me to take what I want to buy and pay the money directly to the till. In fact, he told me to do this once or twice. There is no loss to the tuckshop in my doing this. Generally, the shopkeeper doesn't even know what I bought since I paid directly to the till. Is this permissible?
Mudhaarib hiring the rabbul maal to pack products in the warehouse
Q: I intend to enter into a Mudhaarabah agreement as a Mudhaarib, kindly advise me if the below transaction between the Mudhaarib and Rabbul maal is permissible:
1. The Mudhaarib will rent out space of the Rabbul Maal's warehouse at a set price/sqm.
2. The Rabbul Maal will facilitate the picking and packing of products in the warehouse for a cost per carton. the above arrangements will be structured as three separate contracts:
The Mudhaarabah agreement.
A separate Ijaarah (rental) agreement for the warehouse space.
A separate Ijaarah (service) agreement, whereby the Rabb-ul-Maal undertakes the picking and packing for an agreed fee.
The following conditions will be observed:
The Mudhaarabah capital (Ra-sul-Maal) will first come under the full control and possession of the Mudhaarib.
The Mudhaarib will retain full discretion over the management of the Mudhaarabah business and will remain at liberty to rent any other warehouse and engage any other service provider. His choice to utilize the Rabb-al-Maal's warehouse and services will arise only through separate Ijaarah agreements and will not result in the Rabb-al-Maal effectively retaking control of the Mudhaarabah assets or operations.
The rental and service fees will be fixed and known, and will represent genuine consideration for those services rather than a means of guaranteeing a return to the Rabb-ul-Maal.