Business and Dealings

Q: My older brother is the head of the household and he makes most of the financial decisions for me. A while ago he made me apply for a loan that I would have to pay interest on. Now that I know that paying interest is haram, I've tried hard to convince him to cancel the loan and even told him about valid Islamic sources to show that it is a grave sin. He simply said that we're in a tough situation and I need the loan to go to college so exceptions have to be made. And he went on to add, "These online muftis don't know the difficulties our family goes through to put bread on the table." I'm in a situation where I have no control in returning the loan before interest starts accruing on it since he has control over the bank account. I fear that my family will lash out at me and maybe even cut family ties from me for putting them through difficulties for my own beliefs since they don't follow Islam as closely as I do. I'm very scared of the consequences I will have to face for letting him force me into taking a loan in which I will pay riba on. Please let me know of any way to deal with this sin that I see no way of avoiding. I would even pay 10 times the amount in sadaqa as I took in the loan (later on in my life) if I have to.

Q: My question is about indirect bribing. Someone needs help with money to bribe his boss to give him back his job. But if I give this person money does that mean that I am also assisting with bribing? Although this person promised me he'll give my money back after he'll be able to earn.

Q: If a person loads airtime on his phone and receives some free airtime, can this free airtime be used to enter competitions (e.g. competitions found on food packets, etc.) via SMS or phone calls?

Q: I've bought an item on eBay and after receiving the item, I requested a refund for the money because it was not as stated. The money was returned and according to eBay policy, the seller is to pay the shipping fee for the return. I've been trying to get in touch with the seller for almost two months now but they have not responded. I would like to know what I am to do with the item I had previously bought?

Q: I am a graduate engineer, and the Pakistan Engineering Council (as I am living in Pakistan and) gives all graduates in engineering a Supervisory certificate. This supervisory certificate is basically for the Contractors firm to hire us as it is mandatory for them to hire at least a minimum amount of engineers to get their self recognized with PEC (Pakistan Engineering Council) to be able to work properly here. It is basically a step to save engineers for un-employment. Now whats happening is here is that the contractors firm are now offering engineers to make a contract with them that they will show the PEC that they have hired you but you will not have to come for the job daily and you neither get the pay on a monthly basis, instead you will get a lump sum amount like about 70k or 80k at once and then the contract will be valid for 1 year and the deal is made that you may come to their project site whenever you want. Like basically you sell your contract for one year and show to PEC that you are working with the firm like a normal employee. Now I want to ask that I am working with a firm as a trainee engineer where my pay is just 8k only and I have not got the pay of last month yet, as our company is not good in paying their employees on time. I want to ask that if I make a contract with another company, and sell my supervisory certificate to them and take a lump some amount (Note: my company does not require a supervisory certificate) and I sometimes visit their project site, will it be Haram? As the last date of renewal of the contractor firm is 31st march, after that my supervisory certificate will be of no value. and I have not heard that any 1 engineer is hired by the contractor firm due to of their supervisory certificate. All of them sell the certificate. My friend has sold it, he says that we are not given our rights so we can do that. but I will do it only when , when I am sure that it is not haram. I do photography as a part time so I need some money to upgrade my camera. 

Q: Is it haraam to earn a pension fund and to draw unemployment fund which was partly contributed from your own salary and partly from the company you work at?

Q: I have a question on putting investment.

We have a group of around 45 people and each guy is putting a total of 1200 AED for 1.5 years. And one guy among us is buying a Limo Taxi to run as per Government Rules and every month he will be giving us 15% of the money after his expenditures like room, food, etc.

Total 55000AED only will be from our group of people, and remaining cash needed-the guy who is purchasing the car will be arranging. As per him, he will be paying back monthly to Emirates Transport, a Government Authority, the cash he will arrange. We asked any interest in that, he said he is not sure about it.

We will be getting 15% from the 55000AED amount we are investing, and this is fixed percentage, and the amount may increase or decrease based on how much work he will get with his taxi. But the percentage will be same 15%.

I would like to ask you, if in the amount we are investing there is no interest, will it be haram for us? Because, in the amount this guy is arranging, he may be paying monthly to Authority with interest.

Q: I am planning to start my career in the field of event organizing. I may get events in which there may be unlawful gatherings, intermingling of sexes, and other haram stuffs that may be involved. Can I take such contracts ? What if I do not mix into the gathering or support the setup of any haram products such as alcohol. My part would be merely to supervise and look after the decoration of the venue and related jobs?

Q: I have a question regarding working for a non-government organization(NGO). The name of the organization is swisscontact. This organization does not work for profit. They work in many sectors like, health, education, earning and so on. One of their work is to make awareness of the banking facilities to the poor who do not hold any bank account and unable to do regular banking activities.

I may get a job offer in this organization. My job will be to hire agents who will work in the field level to educate people about banking activities. My job will be to manage these agents who will create awareness among people about conventional banking. Conventional banking may include savings account, savings schemes, loans, etc.

There will be some banks who will have a contract with my organization (swisscontact). This is a project based work and it is donor funded. My organization doesn’t earn from the bank or interest. This organization runs its operations from donor money. Can I work for this Company in this role?

Q:  Can we save money in margadarshi like monthly deposit. Is it permissible?