Loans

Q: I am a post graduate student. My question is regarding a scholarship which I applied for and wanted to ask if it is ok for me to take.

I am presently studying in a different state and this scholarship is from the central govt. but I needed a proof of residence of this state for the application. So I got in contact with an agent and he managed to get my application approved for which he is taking a part of the scholarship money.

Anyway, generally I never applied for scholarships in my schooling or college or bachelors but because I have a few unplanned heavy expenses related to my education course, I applied for it thinking it would help. But I am in a dilemma whether to use it or dispose it or just use it for this particular purpose and dispose the remaining or use it for my other personal expenses and if not, then how do I dispose it?

Q: I had rented a house and thereafter negotiated with the landlord to purchase the house. As I did not have the funds to purchase the house, my friend offered to assist by loaning me the full purchase price payable to him as arranged. He forwarded the monies to the seller and the legal transfer process from the seller to me commenced. Soon thereafter my friend went through some financial problems and his family members demanded that I repay the loaned amount to him (my friend) within 24 hours. I was very troubled as I could not arrange such a large sum within such a short time and whilst I was at work another friend happened to pass by. We greeted one another and he noticed the troubled look on my face. Upon his insistence I explained to him the situation and he there and then phoned his bank and asked them to transfer the money to my first friend's account. I was surprised and asked him about the repayment and he said that the house is yours and we will talk about the repayment. Upon my insistence he suggested that I pay 4000 rental monthly for now and then we will discuss the repayment.

NB. Since the house was in the process of getting transferred to my name from the seller, he (second friend) asked the conveyancer to continue with the transfer into my name and when I queried with him, he did mention that the house is yours and it is for you. I continued paying the monthly stipulated rental until one day he passed away.

Upon his death I told my wife to ask my friends widow about the house and she said that she is aware of the situation. She sent her brother to my house who then said that they prefer keeping the house as an investment for the children and they do not want to sell. I did not pursue the matter further until I recently mentioned it to an aalim who felt that it could probably be that I am paying interest and the widow is receiving interest as the amount given to me by the second friend was a loan and not a purchase price of the house.

Can you please advise as to what the status of the above transaction is and who is the owner of the house and what is the status of the monies forwarded to me by my second friend as I would not like be involved in interest in anyway.

Q: Can a rich Muslim apply for minority scholarship given by government for higher education?

Q: A person agreed with another person to lend some money and in exchange they will continue their friendship relationship. They have been friends for a year now and in order to continue the other person has agreed to lend money. Assuming if the borrower of the loan is willing to continue the relationship in exchange of a loan. Then friendship or continuation of relationship considered to be a benefit/interest in this scenario?

Q: If I borrow Rs 10 lac from someone and return the same amount after 10 years, the value of the money will not be same and interest is haraam so what should we do to keep the value of the money?

Q: A brother had $1000 (halaal money) and he lent one of his relatives. On him receiving the money back, he learnt that the money comes from haraam sources (drugs, alcohol, etc.).

1. Is that money that is returned to him from haraam sources permissible for him (his money is from halaal sources) or is it halaal?

2. Please advise what to do.

Q: One of my friends required a loan of R500 000. I loaned him this amount, and our mutual agreement was that he would repay me after one year.

Unfortunately, only six months have passed and I have fallen into some financial difficulty. Can I claim my money back from my friend, even though the agreed term of one year has not yet terminated?

Q: I loaned a certain person an amount of R10 000 to be repaid after one year. When one year elapsed, the person repaid my loan and also presented a small gift to me (a box of chocolates) as a token of appreciation. I was neither expecting this gift, nor was it stipulated, at the time of the loan, that he would give me this gift. Is it permissible for me to accept it, or will it be regarded as interest?

Q: Is indexation considered as riba? There are 2 methods to go to university

1. Paying upfront

2. Student loan (i know this is haram already but i just want to know about the 1st option whether it is actually halal because only a minority of Islamic scholars talk about this issue of inflation causing the prices to rise).

Q: I know someone working at the Federal Bank. He says that he can help open my doors with a higher loan amount. Once he gives me the loan amount, the money can be paid by the insurance of the bank and I don't have to pay anything towards the loan. He is basically squashing my money so the insurance can pay the bank back. If this was the case, I could open up plenty musjids and pay for the poor with loan amounts from the bank and the insurance of the bank will just pay the banks back. There is a saying that  money is the root to all evil and alot of people are doing this. It sounds corrupt but I require a Mufti's advice.