Business and Dealings

Q: I work in a government organization as an officer. We deal with a lot of tenders. Everyday lots of contractors visit us regarding projects. These days we are working on a new tender and a contractor (let’s call him X), who frequently visits us, informed me that his company’s country head is in town and wants to meet us. I asked him to come to our office and meet our team.

X came along with the country head and we discussed technical matters. At the end of our meeting, the country head gave us a gift bag and told us that this is a souvenir from his side for us. We were 3 team members but he brought souvenirs for only the two of the team members. He didn’t give anything to the third person.

Was this ‘souvenir’ a bribe to us? Because the meeting was regarding a tender, but we are not giving them any favours. We are going through the whole tender process as transparently as possible. I am worried whether this souvenir is a bribe or not, because I realised it later on, after he left, that it might be a bribe. We still won’t be giving them any favours on the tender project. If it is termed as a bribe, what should I do now because I have already accepted the gift.

Note: The country head gave us the products that his own company makes, hence called it a souvenir. 

Q: Is it permissible to sell an item on terms to pay and in the receipt/agreement it is made clear that if payment is not made by a stipulated date, the person will be charged a set amount for each month in the delay of payment. Both parties sign the agreement and everything is transparent. Or is the amount to be charged to the customer for delay in payment considered riba?

Q: Is charging more than the price on an item if it is bought on installments permissible or not?

Q: Is it permissible to pay a fixed monthly fee for a credit facility on a credit card? The fee is payable whether or not the credit facility is used. No interest will be incurred on the credit facility.

Q: I am very depressed even though I pray salaah five times a day and sometimes I pray tahajud too. I read Quraan 3 or 4 times a day. I think that I am disobedient towards my parents...

My mother always wants me to study but when I open my books I cant focus. Moreover I have applied for a job at the bank but when I open the books to study, thoughts come to my mind that it is haraam and Allah will punish me. My mother wants me to work and I am very depressed.

I make lots of dua and offer nafl prayers too. I ask Allah to help me so that no one will be displeased with me.

Please advice me so that I can come out of this depression.

Q: Is it permissible to work in an organization which gives loans for building houses?

Q: Can I take a loan on interest from a bank to pay off my friends debts in order to save him from going to jail?

Q: I am in need of money. If I buy something like a mobile phone on installments and then I sell it because I need the money, and pay the installments every month, is it permissible or does it come under interest?

Q: One of my friends required a loan of R500 000. I loaned him this amount, and our mutual agreement was that he would repay me after one year.

Unfortunately, only six months have passed and I have fallen into some financial difficulty. Can I claim my money back from my friend, even though the agreed term of one year has not yet terminated?

Q: I am a Graphics Designer. I have been working on the software called Illustrator. This software is used to make logo, portraits and many other designs.

I work for different clients all over the world. In almost all the projects I have to make a picture of a human, animals and plants to make it attractive. But I came to know from somewhere that making these designs is forbidden in Islam. If yes, then why taking pictures is allowed?

I hope to get a detailed answer. If this is really forbidden then please suggest what I can create. I think in these ages its difficult to run away from pictures and drawings since they are every where.