Hiring and Renting

Paying a fixed rate for electricity

Q: Is it permissible to enter into a fixed plan with ones energy supplier? By fixed plan I mean entering into a contract to pay a fixed price per kWh for any gas/electricity used during the coming year. The alternative is to remain on a variable plan, which means that the price of the gas/electricity fluctuates depending on market prices.

Renting out a house to a Hindu

Q: We have given a portion of our house on rent as it is very big and very difficult to clean and maintain. Our tenant, who is a Hindu, does his prayers according to his beliefs. I want to know whether it is permissible or not as the building is the same but the portion on rent is totally separate.

Cancelling accommodation

Q: I currently live in a hostel. I talked to another hostel owner to book a room. He kept a room for me for over 4 days and he denied other people who wanted that room. Now in the morning, the current hostel warden showed me another room with fewer charges and I decided to stay in the current hostel and not to shift. Now, if I stay, did I go against my word (wada khilafi)? I am feeling extremely guilty and I am starting to worry about my beliefs because of the backing out. Can I just say sorry and give some fine?

Leasing a car from the bank

Q: I am a government employee. I got my car by signing a lease with the bank on a monthly installment for 7 years. The actuall price was 15 lacks but the bank gave it to me for 23 lacks which is too much. Now I am not comfortable with it. Is it interest as all the banks in pakistan are based on interest. 

Recruiting agencies charging fees

Q: Can we do a job in which we get employed through recruiting offices/agencies who take some commission (usually some percent from their first salary) from the candidates they employ and the company whom they recruit these candidates. Sometimes they take commission from the company only and keep totally free from the candidates, they do not take commission from the candidates.

In both the above scenarios, will the job for the candidates be haraam? Will the income, etc or anything be haraam? Will it be a sin? And what if they take fees and not commission from the candidates and may take commission from the company then what will be the answer? It's not impossible but it is quite difficult to find jobs without the help of recruiting agencies/companies.