An agent taking a profit on a purchase

Question

Question: A widowed neighbour of my mother sent money from Karachi. If, in buying studded jewellery here and sending it to her, I bought one item at a time from different places, added my own profit to them and sent them to her, is taking this profit permissible? The woman is indeed a widow, but her son has a good job, and her in-laws also help her. My money and time were spent; having worked, can I take a profit for the work? I do not have a shop of my own; I buy goods from a shop and add my own profit to them.

Answer

You bought goods for this widow with the money she sent, so it is not permissible for you to take a profit on that. However, for the time you spent going to the market and buying from the shops, you may claim from her a payment for your labour.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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