Business and Dealings

Q: I'd like to buy and sell items which will be imported. I won't be importing bulk but rather will advertise an item and buy it once I have an order for that particular item. I will be charged about R285 to import. So if I buy an item that costs e.g. R300 my total will be R300+R285=R585. And i'll add a profit to it. e.g.R50 which will make the item R635. I'd like to know if this is permissible Islamically? And if I have 2 orders, each will pay R635 but since the order will go in at the same time I'll end up with more than R50 profit.

Q: I have recently moved out from a house and I'm having some problems with regards to receiving my deposit which I innitialy gave when I moved in. The situation is as follows: 14 days before the month could end I made my intention known to the landlord that I am looking to move out and 8 days before the month could end I confirmed that I'll be moving out, however the landlord says that I gave a too short notice and she can't return the deposit and I did not give much time for her to get another tenant and I did not give 1 months notice (keeping in mind that we have not renewed a lease). She will now only give me the deposit when she gets a new tenant. Please advice regarding the shar'ee point of view in this situation.

Q: I am working in a micro finance bank as a loan officer that gives loan with interest and i want to know that it is right way in Islam for earning or it is riba income?

Q: Is it permissible to apply for an old age state pension? What is the Shari’ah ruling in this regard?

Q: Is it permissible to utilize government funds (especially in such a country were Hindus are rulers and where unislamic laws are enforced) where the meat of a pig is not considered haraam. Where alcoholic substances are sold without any ban. Where Muslims are treated as downtrodden and ignorant. In such a country where all means of earning are against the principles of Islam, can we use goverment funds for construction of toilets and bathrooms in the premises of a masjid (mosque) only meant for making wudhu etc. These things can be used only during prayer times because they remain locked almost all the times and people cannot use the all the time.

Q: I have a saving account and the bank is giving interest on my account every quarterly. Is the interest haram in shariyah? Accordingly to shariyah, what should I do with that money? Can I donate it to poor people or give it to poor and needy needy relatives?

Q: I am a farmer and supply milk to shops. Almost all the other farmers sell their milk at a low price because they add water to the milk. The customers are aware of this as well. If I sell my milk without water, nobody will buy it because it will be more expensive than the milk with the water. If I inform my customers and mutually agree with them to add water to the milk, will it be permissible?

Q: I have a house. I borrow some money from one person and I give him my house for one year. After one year, I take back my house and pay back his money. Is this permissible?

Q: I have purchased tomato sauce for resale; however, the tomato sauce is past the manufacturer’s best before date. I am in the food industry for the past 20 years and I know that the tomato sauce will not go bad by the date reflected by the manufacturer. In fact, the item is still good for another one year after the best before date. I wish to get the item tested by an independent food technologist and then adjust the date on the packaging to the date the independent food technologist recommends. Will it be permissible for me to adjust the date or will this fall under deception?

Q: If it is merely suspected that a tenant buys and sells stolen goods, is it incumbent on the landlord to terminate that tenant’s tenancy?