Interest bearing loans & Transactions

Charging the EFT charges when giving someone a loan

Q: My friend asked me for a loan of R10 000. He said that he will pay me back the R10 000 after a week. There is no extra amount that I asked him to pay over and above the R10 000. However, since he asked me to eft the amount to him through which my bank will charge me R7, I asked him to pay my bank charges i.e. to pay the R7 which my bank will be charging me to do the eft. Is it permissible for me to take the R7 from him for the eft charge?

Getting involved in an interest transaction

Q: My daughter works in a health company. Few days back one of her colleagues asked for 1000 dirhams from each person to give daman company and in return they will get 2500 all together. So she also gave without thinking how this works. Later when asked, we came to know that it’s a reimbursement of a fake bill of Ayurvedic treatment which is included in her insurance card but she didn’t actually do any such treatment. Now it’s time to get the given 1000 dhs plus extra 1500 dhs (reimbursement).

Is it permitted in Islam to use that money? What do I do?

Referring clients to parties offering "bridging finance"

Q: I am an Attorney specialising in conveyancing. 

As part of the process, certain debts need to be paid by sellers before transfer is taken and the money is paid for them. 

Hence there is a service by third parties called bridging finance. They essentially give a seller a loan against the impending purchase price coming in. This service is probably a riba based model. 

I only refer non-Muslim clients to them. For that referral, the third party offers me a referral fee. Is that referral fee halaal for me ?

Helping one's wife pay an interest bearing loan

Q: Before our marriage, my wife financed a car with an interest-bearing loan. I am not on the loan or title and had no involvement in the original contract. After marriage, I voluntarily began making the monthly payments. About $15,000 remains. 

Recently, I became concerned that making these payments may involve me in riba, so I offered to pay the entire balance immediately. My wife asked me to continue the regular payments for two more months because of a pending diminished-value insurance claim. I made one more monthly payment, despite being financially able to pay off the loan. 

My questions are: 

Am I sinful or considered the “payer of riba” mentioned in the hadith because I make payments on my wife's interest-bearing loan, even though I am not the borrower or owner? Was I sinful for making another monthly payment after I was able and willing to pay off the loan in full?

Calling interest "service charge"

Q: There is a government youth development department here. There is a loan project and it was declared on the terms 9% service charge for women with no Riba. 

9% at gradually low rate. 

Is working as a youth development officer halaal there or taking the loan? 

It’s a charitable government department but yet there is that 10% service charge for men, 9% service charge for women, etc. rate for other gender.

Giving a loan on interest

Q: Two parties want to enter an agreement: Person A wants to loan money to Person B. 

The amount is marked up by 10% and the repayment is over a fixed period e.g. 4 years. 

If there is a clause in the agreement to say that if you pay by 3 years, you will get R2000 back. 

Is the rebate of the R2000 clause permissible? Is the allocation of marked up shares permissible?

Taking an interest-bearing loan to study

Q: I have a great academic background and I want to continue my studies abroad. The country I am currently living in is Afghanistan, so my financial circumstances are not good and for continuing my studies I am not going to be able to pay for my education expenses. 

Can I get a loan and this loan has been accompanied by interest. Studying abroad is my dream and I can make my future through this. So can I get the loan?