Business and Dealings

Q: I run a supermarket. Can I come up with offers that target Hindu clientele e.g. Diwali 20 percent off or Raksha Bandan offers? As a Muslim, can I use Hindu big days to come up with offers for Hindu clientele?

Q: What are the basic laws of a partnership and how does profit-sharing work in a partnership?

Q: I am a bit confused in regards to a matter, the issue is upon the death of my mum, my aunt asked for her Islamic clothes as a memoir but I gave it to her so that when my aunt wears my mum's clothes and prays in it, Isaal-e-Sawaab might go to my mum but it's unfortunate that I have never seen my aunt not once pray in those clothes. My wish was to take my mum to hajj but since she is no longer with me I wish to ask those clothes back from my aunt and wear it when I perform hajj. Now I know taking back gift is not a great idea but if I wear the clothes of my mum it will feel like she is with me when I am performing hajj. Can you please advise me if I should ask back the clothes which I bought for my mum and gave it to my aunt, in return I will buy her brand new clothes?

Q: My question is regarding haraam income. My uncle used to run a sharab shop (bar) but now he is no more. He had taken a loan and there was no one to return the loan so my dad took the responsibility to return the loan but my dad got involved in the sharab shop (bar) and started to return the loan. The entire loan is returned but my dad is still working in the sharab shop (bar). Please suggest me what I am do. He provides haram income to my family members, friends, relative and also myself.

Q: A person leases out his property to someone. He tells the lessee that the monthly rental will be 5% of the turnover the lessee makes while trading during each month. Is it correct for the lessor to charge the lessee a rental based on his turnover?

Q: I have a small problem. This morning I went to do some shopping. While parking, I misjudged my turning and by mistake I scraped into the car next to me. It was a very small scrape, maybe just a touch up would fix the problem on their car. Due to my financial situation I got scared and drove away without informing the person. However I am now feeling really really guilty about it and i fear Allah's punishment with regards to it, like I am scared Allah will take away barakah from my wealth that I have left or something else will happen. What can I do to fix this situation as I was scared to wait for the person to tell him what had happened.

Q: I have an approximate amount of 2.6 million in an investment with Al Baraka bank,with a monthly return plan. Do I need to give zakaat on it? If so, how much and how do I calculate?

Q: If we interpret various Fataawa then it seems we can purchase shares and then sell them. But some people say that if you purchase the shares speculating that they will go up and sell within few minutes or after an hour or after some days then it is gambling. They say that the sole purpose of share buying should be the partnership of the company. If we are buying shares in anticipation of getting higher price afterwards, it is haraam. According to some muftis the sole purpose of buying the shares should be the partnership in the company and not trading. My question is can I buy the shares of a permissible company and then sell it when the value goes up?

Q: We have customers who buy on credit. Is it permissible for us to tell them that we will give them a discount if they pay before the due date? For example, the customer purchases goods worth R100 000 on a three month credit basis. The customer is told, “If you pay within one month, you will receive a 10% discount”. Is this permissible? 

Q: Someone who works at a store whose main commodity is alcohol recently went for hajj. When he returned he bought us some dates, a prayer mat, tasbeeh and some zamzam water. Can we use these items knowing his income is derived from selling alcohol?