Business and Dealings

Q: I have a contemporary business question to inquire about.

Would it be permissible to apply for work at a company that deals with various financial schemes if:

The company sells clothing and furniture and offers various financial services for its customers such as credit purchases, lay-by's, higher purchases, loyalty programs for monthly fees and so forth.

Customer will make use of these financial scheme services that are offered to allow them paying less at one time but the consequences of not paying cash incur interest which happens to many.

The work I would be doing is directing calls, working in despatch during certain hours and the rest in, reconciliating ledgers and providing debtors and creditors list regularly, in line with their financial scheme pay back plans which makes part of the work to record interest that is owed to and paid for by the customers.

I would like to know the Islamic perspective on whether or not it will be permissible for me to work and earn halaal money from the company for the services I will render? Or should I find work that does not involve recording of interest.

Q: Is it permissible to sell water in the following scenario: you have a private meter for your municipal water and you sell this water to your neighbours and tenants at a higher price than what the municipality is charging you?

Q: A person gave a loan from his halaal money to someone with a mostly a halaal income. Later, the person who the money was lent to took a new job in which they earn a mostly haraam income. Is it haraam for the lender to be repaid by the person he lent money to?

Will such a repayment carry any of the spiritually destructive side effects of utilizing haraam wealth? And if there is any evidence from the ulama and fuqaha on this matter, then please share because I could not find anything about this online. 

Q: I want to sell items (mostly food) via social media. e.g. tubs of biscuits, sweetmeats, pastries etc. I do not make these items nor keep any on hand i.e. made to order. The items will be procured from multiple home vendors. I will advertise these items via social media and interested parties will contact me to order and pay me for the items. I will then order the items for the buyer and the buyer will collect from me or from known pickup points in different areas. I will be paid before I have the items in my possession and I will pay the baker once I collect/receive the items.

Will I need to get the order, buy/pay and have the item in hand before I accept funds from the buyer? Will this type of model be permissible? If not, what will I need to adjust in my model for it to be permissible?

Q: I came across a fatwa regarding renting out ones premises to someone who will be conducting a haraam business such as a bar or a bank being haraam as Allah says do not help one another in sin.

A brother sent me another fatwa from islamqa.org where they say its permissible as per Abu Hanifa (rahimahullah) as the sin of haraam is on them. So is it a valid difference of opinion and can I choose the one that suits me?

They say that non Muslims can trade in alcohol or interest amongst themselves so the ayah is referring to not supporting others in sin between Muslims only as there is no birr and taqwa for non Muslims. And since someones sin cannot be transferred to you then you are not responsible for what they do. Same as non-Muslim renting a house and you are not responsible for what sins they commit in the house. So can I just pick the one that suits me?

Q:

1. Is it permitted to sell books authored by Salafis? This is specific regard to books on Hadith and Aqeedah.

2. What is the status of the income earned?

3. Is there a difference in selling to Ulama and non-'Ulama?

4. If a person sells Salafi authored books, does this count as a compromise in Usul/Aqeedah?

Q: I wish to enquire regarding a new type of insurance called Takaaful. Is this new type of insurance permissible in Islam? Does Islam allow one to insure his house or car etc.?

I was always under the impression that all types of insurance are haraam.  However, I have been told that Takaaful insurance is quite different to conventional insurance as it is a waqf that one is investing in and by taking out this type of insurance, one will perpetually be gaining reward.

Q: I want to take an interest loan from a bank through a friend since the bank would only be willing to lend it to my friend and not myself because of my poor credit history. Is it allowed? What is the punishment and is the sin on both of us or only me? Am I also involving my friend in a sin?

Q: We are 2 brothers and 1 sister. Our father passes away long time ago and our mother is alive.

We have one house which is on our mother's name. She wants to divide the house between us siblings. How should it be done according to shariah?

Q: I am editing a kitaab where I have placed different titles in arabic (Alayhis salaam, Radi-Allahu-Anhu etc.) after the names of the Sahaabah, Prophets and Angels etc. Most of them came standard with the software I use however it was missing one which was Radi-Allahu-Anhaa, to be used after A'isha. I found a suitable arabic image for it online but I would like to know should I ask the owner of the documents permission before using this image ? I'm not taking any information from the document itself just the arabic title itself as it is difficult to find a nice image otherwise.