Business and Dealings

Q: I was just wondering, is it true you can not sell cats or kittens?

Q: I am working in an airport in the cargo handling department. My job is to fill out the documentation, count the number of pieces, make the carts ready for flight, store the cargo in the warehouse racks, etc. Sometimes, the cargo is alcohol or cigarettes, but it is less than 5% of all cargo we handle. Is it permissible for me to work in this job?

Q:

1. I am planning to sell clothes and bags, some of which are original designs, but some are exact replicas of international brands. Since copying any branded item is forbidden by the law of all countries, and copying any such item means violating copyrights, is it haraam for me to sell such products? I will mention that these products are copies and not original.

2. If I sell a sleeveless dress or a dress that has net sleeves, will it be haraam if I know that the woman buying it will wear it in front of non-mahrams? Since I know that she does not cover herself, will I be helping her in sinning and will my earning be haraam?

Q: I am working in a software company in India. Our head office is in US and our Indian branch is operated from there and our salaries are generated from there as well. We are mostly working for US Government projects and most of the Indian software industries are growing up because of US economy. My question is, as everyone is aware that America is basically trying to demolish Islam and its followers, so in general way of thinking, working on US projects, means working for them, and then making there life easy. Like everyone knows that US airforce did bombarding on Islamic countries and many Muslims were killed and if I participated in there software requirements via India. So does it mean, I am also involved in that and Allah will ask me questions on that? I did my higher education in computers and every small industry is running up because of the US and other western countries projects. If I leave my job, and join other company then there also same situation will arise. Please suggest!

Q: My question is can I take donations from others like how it is shown on this web site www.indigogo.com and start my business?

Q: Is it permissible for a Muslim to advertise the sale of rats, mice, and the items used for their keeping (e.g. sawdust, breeding cages, specialized water-feeders, etc.)? It is possible that they could be purchased for feeding snakes, owls, hawks and genets, etc. by a zoo or veterinarian.

Q: We own a house and have tenants staying there! I gave them notice to move as I wanted to move into the house. Things didn't go as planned for me and I ended up not moving. I told the tenants that they don't have to move anymore! They continued to stay. Now they don't want to pay me rent fir the month saying they didn't get deposit back from removal company and the husband had to take unpaid leave 3 days for the move. Is this allowed. Also they didn't inform me about there plans only when I asked they said they not paying!

Q: I am currently working as a Junior doctor in hospital and I am due to apply for a speciality career in General Practice (GP)/Family Medicine Inshallah. As a doctor is it permissible for me to prescribe birth controlling/contraceptive pills and other such artificial birth controlling methods, especially when in the west majority of its use is by unmarried women fuelling their desire for zina (as I am sure you are aware). I have seen on countless occasions during my GP placements where single unmarried women have come to see the GP and asked for the re-supply of their contraceptive pills as they have ran out and they have not been able to have "Safe Sex!!" with their boyfriend and have had to take the "morning after pill" each time they have had intercourse, just to be on the safe side. As I am planning on applying for this training post, is this permissible in the light of Islam?

Q: What is Mufti Sahib's view with regards to boycotting? I understand that turning to Allah through Salaah and duaa is more important but I wanted to know should we also boycott Israeli products and stores that support Israel? What about boycotting other countries that are oppressing Muslims eg. USA, China?

Q: In our country, many shopkeepers do business using third party cheques. The customer comes with a cheque on his name issued by his employer or any other company. He comes to the shopkeeper to cash the cheque. The shopkeeper agrees to cash the cheque on condition that he buys 20% of the value of the cheque worth of goods from his shop. For example, the customer brings a cheque worth R5000. The shopkeeper agrees to cash the cheque on condition that he buys R1000 worth of goods from his shop. In lieu of the R5000 cheque, the shopkeeper will give him R4000 cash and R1000 worth of goods. The benefit the shopkeeper gets from this transaction is the profit he makes in selling the R1000 worth of goods. Thereafter, the shopkeeper will recover the R5000 by cashing the cheque in his bank (he has a prior agreement with his bank to cash third party cheques).

1. Would such a transaction be permissible?

2. Some shopkeepers have resorted to cashing the cheques in the following manner: The customer brings a R5000 cheque. The shopkeeper sells him a pen for R1000 and gives him R4000 cash. So in lieu of the R5000 cheque, he gives him R4000 and a pen worth R5. Is this permissible?

3. Can the shopkeeper charge a fixed service charge for each cheque bearing in mind that he has to spend his time and effort to go to the bank and deposit the cheque?

4. Such a business is risky due to the possibility of the cheques bouncing and therefore, the shopkeeper normally puts a higher mark up on his goods than the prevailing retail price in the market. For zakaat purposes, what price will the shopkeeper base his calculations on; his selling price or the prevailing price in the market?