Business and Dealings

Recruiting a teacher to teach music

Q: If a female works for a recruitment company for schools (they provide teachers to schools) and these temporary teachers can be provided for any class such as music, English, business, maths (it’s not for a specific lesson). Is their income halal even if we know that they will be supplying teachers for a music lesson?

Purchasing items with U Count points and giving it in charity

Q: I have the following queries regarding the U Count rewards from Standard Bank. I do earn these points but do not use them as per your previous fataawa that I read on your website. 

My questions are as follows: 

1. Can I purchase items from the U Count participating retailers e.g. Makro and give these items to my helper who is a non-Muslim or any Muslim person or any Muslim organization e.g. a Muslim orphanage? 

2. Can I purchase items for me e.g. R1000.00 using the points and then take R1000 in cash and give it away to any Muslim, non-Muslim or any Muslim organization?

Taking an interest-bearing loan to study

Q: I have a great academic background and I want to continue my studies abroad. The country I am currently living in is Afghanistan, so my financial circumstances are not good and for continuing my studies I am not going to be able to pay for my education expenses. 

Can I get a loan and this loan has been accompanied by interest. Studying abroad is my dream and I can make my future through this. So can I get the loan?

Muslim business using adverts with Christmas decorations and selling Christmas items

Q: 

1. Is it permissible for a Muslim business owner to promote his business using adverts with Christmas decorations? 

2. Can a Muslim businessman sell Christmas lights, trees, decorations, etc.? 

3. What is the ruling regarding a person decorating his business with Christmas lights, Santa Clause etc.?

Driving non-mahrams

Q: Where I'm working, I know the people quite well. I've been working here for about 3 years or so now. 

They give me duties to do, example, to take their mother or wife or sister to go shopping or to transport them from one place to another. 

I personally don't like doing that because they are non mahram. My wife gets angry with me when I do those things and she doesn't speak to me. 

If I do tell my boss that I can't do those duties, I know personally they will fire me or treat me differently although they are Muslims. What should I do?

Collecting the company phone which one forgot while out for work

Q: A person has a phone for work purposes. The phone is old and the battery no longer lasts the full day. If he goes somewhere for work purposes and forgets the phone there because it's flat and he is forced to use his own phone. Is he liable to go and pick up the company phone with his own money or will he be allowed to use the company vehicle to go and get the phone?

Being charged extra when buying airtime in advance

Q: I bought airtime and put it in my phone. I used the airtime to buy a bundle of data. I never notice my airtime was fifty cents less. They charged me an emergency recharge. They gave me R2 and said from my next airtime they will take R2+R1.10 access fee. What must I do at that time? When agreeing, I never know it was interest but after that I sensed it. Please advise.