Business and Dealings

Informing the customer about a defect in the product

Q: I sell 1m lengths of pipe at R80. I purchase these ready cut. I have a marking on my counter to measure 1m. Those who purchase don't specifically require 1m but purchase the metre as that's how it's sold. It is advertised as 1m. I noticed a pipe today that was marginally short. I therefore refunded R2 to the customer but did not inform him why. The pipe will still fulfill the function for which it was purchased. What is the ruling regarding this transaction?

Paying off gambling debts of the deceased

Q: A member of our community as an heir would like to know if it's permissible to pay off gambling debts accrued by the deceased to pay off multiple gambling debts accrued to Muslims and non Muslims. 

Notes: 

1. A member of family has come forward to assist with these debts as they too want to rid of their unwanted interest income in order to assist with paying off these debts. 

2. The deceased does have an income deriving property asset in his estate but the income is little to none and will take years to save and accumulate the funds required to pay off the gambling debts.

Giving a loan on interest

Q: Two parties want to enter an agreement: Person A wants to loan money to Person B. 

The amount is marked up by 10% and the repayment is over a fixed period e.g. 4 years. 

If there is a clause in the agreement to say that if you pay by 3 years, you will get R2000 back. 

Is the rebate of the R2000 clause permissible? Is the allocation of marked up shares permissible?