Q:
1. Is it permissible for an engineer to design the structure (i.e. steel in beams, columns, etc.) of a building which the owners will use for producing alcohol?
2. Is it permissible for an engineer to design the structure of a church?
3. Is it permissible to sell grapes to someone who will use it for making wine?
Q: When I was a child I remember one of the neighbours close to us had a garden that from what I remember was quite messy like things were about and one thing there was a tricycle and it looked like the one I had when I was a child and to think at the time I thought someone must have dumped my tricycle there so I took it out.
However I cannot ascertain if it did belong to me and perhaps I took someone’s tricycle, maybe I thought the garden was messy so my tricycle was dumped there.
I believe the family have moved out now and there are new owners of the house. Would I have to approach the current owners to see if they are in contact with the old owners so I can ask the old owners for forgiveness and pay them if that is required of me.
Q: I am participating in a technical project at my university which will be funded by the project's team members equally. The money collected will be used to buy parts and equipment for the project. During the project's duration, the remaining money will be kept reserved for use in case a part breaks and needs replacement.
After the project is over, the parts used in the project and the money will be equally distributed to the team members.
The parts distributed will be used, and may be worn. On what basis can the parts be distributed to the team members? Should they be distributed based on their value when they were bought, or should we estimate their current market value?
Q:
Question 1:
My brother in law and I would like to venture in a business of exporting rice from India to South Africa. He will invest 15% and I will invest 85% of cash in this venture. He will also be fully in charge for procuring the rice from the mills and for the admin work in India. I will be responsible for the work in South Africa, dealing with the customers and any other work that's needed.
I would like to find out how should our profit be distributed? Based on the percentage invested or 50/50?
Question 2:
I have invested in my brother in laws aluminium business where he uses my cash and buys for COD and his supplier gives him a cash discount of 1 rupees per kg. This cash discount he gives it to me as my dividends of my investment.
1. Is this dividends permissible for me (cash discount received by him/his business)?
2. Should it not be that the cash discount be for the business and the profit that he makes by selling the aluminium (of my cash that he used to buy) be split according to a fixed percentage mutually agreed?
Q: I have a female relative who is a doctor. She teaches at some medical college. Recently, she gave me some money as a gift. She has a husband too. I do not know whether the money is from her earning or her husband's earning. What should be done with the money?
Q: I have a business question. Two people decided to open a business. One person invested the money and the other person is responsible for running the business and the profits are to be shared between them.
Does the invester receive a salary also every month according to the shariah?
Q: The question is: do we qualify to take up a new mortgage for a new home under the fatwa issued on mortgage for ONE house from the European council for fatwa and research?
The background is that we live in Norway and we own a house (apartment/ flat) of about 76 square meter equivalent to 820 square feet. Two thirds of the mortgage of the current house is paid of.
We have 3 children and we think that the house is too small for us. We are thus thinking of selling this one and taking up a new mortgage to buy a bigger (separate) new house.
As per the fatwa, it is allowed to buy/own ONE house with a bank mortgage. At the same time we don't wish to wage a war against Allah Ta'ala, as it is stated in the Holy Quran, about ribaa.
So do we qualify under this fatwa to do this? Shall we go ahead with our plan?
Q: FNB offer a service where one can invest in Kruger Rand gold coins through them. They then store it for you at a fee of 0.86%pa.
-If one wants to sell the coin back to them, its done at the click of a button.
-If one wants the physical coin, they can arrange for it to be delivered to you at a cost.
-Prior to requesting the coin, I'm not sure if they keep the physical coin or not.
Please advise if it will be permissible to purchase a coin through them in this manner.
Q: There is space for 4 tenants on a property. Is it permissible to rent out portion A of the property to a garden company, with the rental due being a service, e.g. the tenant of the area A will tend to the initial landscaping and then gardening of the entire property long term, as long as they occupy the area A as a tenant.
There will be no rental payments due apart from the gardening service they will offer. In essence, is ijaarah permissible in exchange of a service rather than money?
Q: My question is regarding children giving charity. From what I know, it is not permissible for them to give Sadaqah etc. from their own wealth. What about giving gifts from their own wealth? Also, what if they buy sweets with their own money, and then decide to to share them? How does it work?
I’m teaching, and the above topic came up. They were quite disappointed that they cannot give until they are baaligh, and it sounded like a lot of them had given before. They were asking if they got any reward for what they gave, or does it not count? Is it a sin? What must I tell them?