Business and Dealings

Provident fund

Q: I am employed in the motor vehicle industry. Is it permissible to contribute towards a provident fund? The employer contributes 8% of the monthly salary, and 7,5% is deducted from my salary.

Downloading an e-book for free

Q: If any author kept his book (not Deeni) on certain rate to download online (book for sale), the same book I get from another source some other guy downloaded before and posted on his site or from torrent. Is it ok to download that books and read it and get knowledge from it and it helps for my career. If the author is dead and the caretaker selling the book online. Can I download it from another source, I don't know weather they buy or just download it illegally and posting it for free.

Not revealing one's suppliers to others

Q: I am a work from home Muslimah and have a very small business. I have a few other ladies selling for me. My profit per item is half or sometimes less then half of what I pay per item. (To be honest I make R10 profit per item) so the person selling can also add a small profit or I pay them a certain percentage on sales made. Some people selling for me asked me where they can buy this items to sell for themselves. Is it wrong of me not to tell them cause knowing and believing that Allah Ta'ala gives rizik? I also feel burdened not telling them.

Adding the condition "goods belong to the seller until paid for" in a sale

Q: Please advise on below:

1. Many companies state at the bottom of their invoice "goods remain the property of the above company until fully paid for" What is the status of the goods?

2. Is it amaanat or does ownership pass on to the purchaser? Is such a condition permissible?

3. Will the sale be faasid if such a condition is added?

Employment involving the sale or handling of haraam items

Q: It seems that most jobs I’m qualified for are somehow indirectly related to the sale of haram items. I’ve seen Muslims working at these places, so I was wondering if I’m just overthinking about these things. The job I was thinking of getting is a stocking job where I may have to put haram products on the shelves of the stores. Is it haram for me to work at such a job?