Business and Dealings

Third party insurance

Q: A person wishes to take out third-party insurance. He claims that this form of insurance is permissible because the insurance company will not pay him anything in the event of an accident but will rather pay out the third party. Is third party insurance permissible?

Friend financially assisting one to purchase a house

Q: I had rented a house and thereafter negotiated with the landlord to purchase the house. As I did not have the funds to purchase the house, my friend offered to assist by loaning me the full purchase price payable to him as arranged. He forwarded the monies to the seller and the legal transfer process from the seller to me commenced. Soon thereafter my friend went through some financial problems and his family members demanded that I repay the loaned amount to him (my friend) within 24 hours. I was very troubled as I could not arrange such a large sum within such a short time and whilst I was at work another friend happened to pass by. We greeted one another and he noticed the troubled look on my face. Upon his insistence I explained to him the situation and he there and then phoned his bank and asked them to transfer the money to my first friend's account. I was surprised and asked him about the repayment and he said that the house is yours and we will talk about the repayment. Upon my insistence he suggested that I pay 4000 rental monthly for now and then we will discuss the repayment.

NB. Since the house was in the process of getting transferred to my name from the seller, he (second friend) asked the conveyancer to continue with the transfer into my name and when I queried with him, he did mention that the house is yours and it is for you. I continued paying the monthly stipulated rental until one day he passed away.

Upon his death I told my wife to ask my friends widow about the house and she said that she is aware of the situation. She sent her brother to my house who then said that they prefer keeping the house as an investment for the children and they do not want to sell. I did not pursue the matter further until I recently mentioned it to an aalim who felt that it could probably be that I am paying interest and the widow is receiving interest as the amount given to me by the second friend was a loan and not a purchase price of the house.

Can you please advise as to what the status of the above transaction is and who is the owner of the house and what is the status of the monies forwarded to me by my second friend as I would not like be involved in interest in anyway.

Not paying fees due to tutor not keeping to the contract

Q: I have a contract with a teacher. She said that she will teach me 5 days a week (20 days in a month) for 1 hour on video call and I have to give her 160 riyals. But she taught me only 7 days in the month and less than half hour, not video call just sending voice recording on WhatsApp.

Can I give her less money, only 100 riyal for 7 days. She is asking 160 riyal claiming that the days I did not teach you, you can revise what I thaught you before.

Offer and acceptance of a business transaction through actions

Q: I recently read that a sale takes place with a verbal offer and acceptance from both parties. However, in today’s times, we notice that at the time of purchase, customers merely place the money on the counter while the cashiers hand over the goods without any words being exchanged.  Will the sale be valid in these cases as no verbal offer and acceptance is apparently found?

Woman living alone

Q: I am a Muslim woman. Currently I am going through a lot of troubled times as I lost my job in Dec 2018. I didn't want to be a burden to my parents so I had taken a house for rent close to my office and have been staying alone even after I lost my job. All this while I managed by some savings I had. Now I desperately need a job to pay my rent and bills. I have been worried and praying to Allah. In the house where I stay, it has been 2 years that I am here but had never heard azan till now since there isn't a masjid nearby. But today, all of sudden, I heard azan between Magrib and Isha time. I'm sure this wasn't Magrib or Isha azan. I was surprised to hear it as it is the first time in 2years I have heard it. Can this mean something? Is it some kind of a sign from Allah? What does it mean?

Earnings of an insurance broker

Q: My father works in an insurance company which is being run by Muslims and follows Muslim laws. He himself is an insurance agent who does insurance of different people and the more people participate, the more commission he gets. I want to know whether the money he earns is considered halal? Because the insurance policies he introduces gives that person money time by time.