Interest and Gambling

Q: Is lending money by a Muslim for a standard service fee halaal? If not, what is the permissible way of a Muslim lending money?

Q: I have a savings account in a bank in India. Every 3 to 6 months different amounts of interest money is credited to my account.

1. Can I give this money to a poor man without seeking thawab?

2. Can I give it to repair or maintain the toilets in a masjid?

3. Can I use it for maintaining or cleaning the road infront of my house?

4. Can I use the interest money to maintain the minimum balance in my account?

5. Can I use the money to pay the annual bill collected for using the debit cards?

Q: Is it permissible for an employee to claim from the UIF Fund or is it like an insurance plan? Kindly explain the status of this fund.

Q: I have a friend who is in financial trouble, he has to repay a huge amount of a loan. I know one person who has won some money in a bet, he wants to use the bet amount to help someone in need and does not want to use it for himself.

Is it permissible to use the bet amount to help someone in need without any intention of sawaab?

Q: I am living in United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi). Here, there is a scheme available in the Banks by the name of "National Bond". In this scheme, I have to buy some bond with the minimum of 5000 Dirhams. This 5000 Dirhams will always be with the bank until I withdraw it. Every month the bank will have a lucky draw and the winning price will be 100 000 Dirhams or 1 Kg of gold, etc. If I withdraw the 5000 Dirhams then I no longer qualify to participate in the lucky draw. Is this halaal or haraam in Islam?

Q: My father bought a house through the bank on an interest bearing bond. He got into financial difficulty and needs my help to repay the loan. If I help him to pay the bond, will I be rewarded for it or will I be sinning for paying interest?

Q: I would like to query the issue below:

I am part of a body corporate of a complex based. The body corporate has been in place for about +/- 12 years and it has been run by the Muslim men of the complex. The complex comprises of various owners, Muslim and non-Muslim.

We have recently moved our banking over to FNB Islamic banking. Prior to this, we have accumulated an amount of +/- R22 000 interest money which we had kept aside after the move to Islamic banking. The body corporate is non-profit and we only act in the best interest and upkeep of the complex.

We as the body corporate would like to query if it is permissible or not to use this interest money as this money belongs to the complex which comprises of Muslim and non Muslim owners. We as the body corporate are held liable for the money of the complex.

The investment account which the interest was accumulated from was only opened as this is a law according to the CSOS act which is government regulated.

Please advise the correct manner/s in which this interest money should be dealt as we would like to make the correct decision going forward.

Q:

1. When purchasing goods via a credit card, I received 1 rupee on every purchase of 200 rupees. Is this permissible or not?

2. Different offers are available on credit card and easy paisa accounts everyday. If we purchase and make some payments and order some food via the credit card and easy paisa account, then we will receive a special discount or cash back. Is this permissible or not?

If this is "sood" then what is best use of this amount.

Q:

1. Are all forms of insurance haraam in the west? If a person doesn’t have car insurance in a western country and they have an accident, they have to pay $10,000 to cover the costs of not only their own vehicle but the other vehicle if it is their fault? Where can a Muslim who doesn’t have insurance, get all that money from?

2. Is medical/dental insurance haraam in the west? There are Muslims in the west that live with their elderly parents and they always have to go to hospital and if they didn’t have medical insurance, they would have to pay so much thousands of dollars of money that they simply wouldn’t have it. Where would they go to get their medical treatment. Would they do nothing?

3. Many people say that when you earn money in the west and go to banks to withdraw that money, that money is interest money which the bank runs on so you can’t do anything?

Q: I had an accident and in a claim I received some money from the insurance company of the other party and there is some amount of injury as well but I didn't get any injury.

I just wanted to now whether I can use that money or not. If no, can I give that to anyone who is in need and not eligible for sadaqa?