E-COMMERCE FROM AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

It was very interesting to find out in the reading how the religion can influence the course of business, an in this case encourage the use of the e-commerce, it allow us form up an idea of how the religions must advance with the time, evolving according to the new needs of modernity and necessary changes.

But before analyze the reading is important to know a little bit what is E-commerce: "Electronic commerce, or e-commerce is the process of buying and selling goods and services electronically with computerized business transactions using the internet, networks and other digital technologies". It creates diversity and reduce costs related with transactions.

In the case of the use of E-commerce in the Islamic countries is was very particular because some principles, rules and obligation had to be adapted in order to do not contradict the principles of the Holy Quran.

It is remarkable that the Quran permitted the use of the E-commerce as a tool for productive work, and a new technology that facilitates the economic transactions. It is very important because if We investigate about the position of the Catholic Church about the issue, there is not information about it, so it show us that the Islam is more aware of the technology changes and how they affect the life of the believers, and this religion is advancing according to the changes and challenges of today's world.

But to use the E-commerce the Quran come up with two prerequisite for validate the transactions through internet:

•Permissibility: product- service according to the Islamic law

•Harmless: product - service must not be harmful to the parties

To Muslims the concept of trust is very important in E-commerce, because it is like a principle to avoid tricks and vulnerable positions between the parties.

The Islam propose five stage to validate the use of E-commerce:

1. Initiating a contract: here is important to ensure that the company with which they are negotiating really exists. And ensure that the contract meet the Islamic requirements

2. Confirming the validity: the contract must be free of: Interest (Islam strictly prohibited interest), uncertainty, deceit or fraud, duress, gambling

3. Implementation: in this stage parties must ensure: who offers the product must be the real owner of if and the product must be free of liabilities

4. Binding: parties must sign a contract

5. Delivery: Muslims avoid us of credit cards, the usually use other methods such as payment thought bank or letter of credit.

Finally is important to conclude that Quran allow the use of E-commerce but if it follow the principles of the Islamic principles.