Investing in shares

Q: I have just graduated from metric and I intend investing my money in shares. Please inform me as to which investment companies (oasis, old mutual, al-baraka etc) I can purchase unit trusts from, which are halaal and suitable?

Wasaawis

Q: I was in my bed suddenly a thought came to me that have you said to someone you are not married? I don't think I  said so. I know these are waswasas but they don't leave me. Can I take bait?

Nicknames

Q:

  1. There are names of Allah when we keep we are not required to add Abd before them. Eg, Haleem. Which names of Allah should we be adding Abd to?
  2. Can we call people by nicknames? For eg, someone's called Hanzalah. Can we call them hanzu hanzli etc? What's the ruling regarding it.

Using soaps, creams with alcohol

Q:

  1. Alcohol is used in most creams, soaps and perfumes. Are we allowed to use them? What is the ruling regarding the use if ethnol and synthetic ethnol?
  2. Can we then wear perfume to the mosque? Once sprayed the alcohol vanishes.
  3. In Hadith it says khamr that is made out of grapes and dates is haram. What about barley?

Attending Kuffaar festivals

Q: My family are not Christian, they belong to a kuffaar sect who act like Muslims (alevi), however this year they have decided to have a family Christmas celebration on 25/12. They will exchange presents in a kris kringle (secret santa gift exchange where everyone anonymously buys one person a gift) and will share a family meal with traditional Christmas foods.

  1. Can I attend this gathering?
  2. I'm pretty sure I can't partake in the gift exchange, is this correct?
  3. Please advise on Surahs/duas for me to say to help my family become Muslim.