Business and Dealings

Q: My boss is going for umrah and I have been tasked with managing the business in his absence. While I was away over the weekend he installed a microphone listening device that he connected to the camera system. I understand that cameras are necessary and assist us in the event that customers have queries. I am unhappy with the listening device and feel that it is an invasion of privacy. What happens if I recieve a personal and private call from my wife? Please let me know if it is Islamically correct to use such systems to spy on staff and if I am justified in feeling unhappt about it.

Q: A fertlizer called amino acid is prepared from the hair of humans, dog or any other animal. So we are planning to buy hair from salons and then sell to this industries who make amino acid from hair. Is it permissible?

Q: Can I work in this job?

“Radiology Support Workers are valued members of the Radiology department. We are now seeking to expand this team and are looking to recruit a caring, hardworking and enthusiastic individual. You should be reliable, self-motivated and flexible with excellent communication and inter-personal skills.

You will work closely with Radiologists, Radiographers, Administrative staff and other Radiographic Assistants. Duties will be in all areas of the department and include; assisting with patients and examinations, room preparation, data input onto the department computer system ordering and maintenance of department stock, general housekeeping, undertaking clerical duties and liaising with wards and clinicians.

We are a forward-looking department committed to training and role development.”

Amongst the requirments of working in a hospital is obviously respecting all people and treating all like equals. I worry that if I apply for the job saying that I agree with this, I’d be lying, because realistically it isnt true. For example, men and women arent equal and another example - what if a patient/co worker is homosexual, I dont agree and respect their haraam practices.

Q: Whenever I buy something from outside of the UK with my debit card, my bank takes a purchase/transaction fee. I dont mind this. Is this allowed?

Q: Is it permissible to buy a life insurance policy, not so that my heirs can benefit from it; but merely to cover inheritance tax/estate duty that is so exorbitant that due to not having so much cash funds in the estate, essential assets such as the house in which the heirs live in has to be sometimes sold just to pay the estate duty? The heirs will be instructed that after paying the duty, the surplus must be given away in charity without intention of reward.

Q: I have a doubt... sometimes chartered accountants have to record the interest (riba)of a company. The chartered accountant is not involved in that dealing nor he is present in that meeting nor has he witnissed it, but he has to record it as he has to manage other accounts of the company also. So will he also be responsible? Is that also haraam?

Q: If a person stays in a complex where they have an insurance policy, and every month a portion of the levies go towards that insurance, can he pay that portion with interest/doubtful money? He has already expressed his disapproval of the insurance, but since its a big complex his views are the minority.

Q: I have a question regarding inheritance and family business profits.

I live in a different country as my parents and my father has a business. It is a family business and I've worked in it in the past. My father doesn't go to work a lot these days and my brother manages the business. I am away and so not involved in the business.

My question is about inheritance and access to money from the business. I don't ask for money and I have a job that pays my bills. My brother on the other hand takes money from the business and makes bold decisions when it comes to buying things with family money.

Am I eligible to get a share of the profits from the business as per shariah? I understand that if the business is sold then I do have a share but while the business is running and my father is alive, is it immoral for me to take a share from profits even when I am not involved?

Q: I recently read a fatwa that you issued with regards to eBucks. Jazakallah for the fatwa. I am struggling to understand one aspect and would like you please clarify it.

As you noted in the definition of interest, interest is “excess devoid of any compensation which either of the transacting parties is entitled to due to it being a pre-condition in that transaction.” So one of the conditions for interest is that it should be a pre-condition which doesn’t seem to be met in eBucks. FNB from time to time changes the amount of eBucks given, the reasons for giving eBucks etc. This shows it is not a pre-condition and it is not part of the contract as FNB from their side only modify it from time to time. If this was a pre-condition and part of the transaction it would require the consent of both transacting parties. Therefore, it seems that the definition of interest does not fit into eBucks. Please clarify.

Q: I work at a sales position in a company. Is it halal for me to pass on a lead I got from a connection, to some other supplier which I cannot fulfil from my company and receive commission from that supplier when the deal is done.