Business and Dealings

Trading after the Azaan of Jumuah

Q: I would like to know which Azaan is referred to in the Quranic ayat which prohibits us from conducting any business after the Azaan of Jumuah, is it the first Azaan or the second which is given infront of the mimbar? Secondly what are the consequences with regards to the wealth earned after
the Azaan has gone?

Designing logos for haraam products

Q: I am a graphic designer and I want to find out whether it is permissible to design logos for:

1. A bed and breakfast that will also use the logo for the wine and sausages that they produce. (In Italy, there are many bed and breakfasts located in the countryside that also produce and sell typical countryside products such as wines, sausages, etc.)

2. Non-Muslim clothing brands.

3. Can I design business cards and advertising material for businesses that may also sell haraam products?

4. Finally, is it permissible to design logos containing Christian religious symbols (such as the Christian cross, which is found in the flag and coat of arms of many Italian municipalities, or the cross of pharmacies)?

Refunding excess after repairs back to the tenant

Q: A landlord makes an estimate of costs for effecting repairs to damages caused by a tenant on his property. Upon receipt of the claim from the landlord, the tenant makes payment without question. Subsequently, the landlord effects repairs to all the damage but the total cost turns out to be
much less that what the landlord had billed the tenant. Is the landlord obliged to refund the tenant the excess recovered?

Working for an insurance company

Q: My question is as follows: My wife found a job at old mutual company and I told her it is haraam to work for an organisation which deals with interest, and she stopped. Now she found another job again with an insurance company, she is loading data on the computer. I don't have no info at all about the insurance company, is this place halaal or haraam for Muslims to work at?

Setting up an ebooks website

Q: I want to start a website where people can download books for free. Normally, we download books from other websites and upload on our website. People come and download the books. My questions are:

1. Is it permissible to make books available for free download without the permission of the authors?

2. Downloading books from others and making soft copies of your own seems wrong. Is it a sin?

3. Is the money made from such a business haraam?