Q: I am currently renting my business premises from a an Islamic trust. They have amended the current lease agreement to state that 2% interest will be added to late payment of even a months rent. When the Muslim tenants objected, they changed the word interest and now describe it as admin fees.

Is this allowed? This very trust contributes to the funding of the masjid and Islamic school.

Q: I work as a mechanical product designer. Recently a new project came to me, actually it will be an alcohol dispenser. This product is specifically designed for alcohol. I want to ask if it is permissible to design this product as a Muslim?

Q: As is the trend in some pre schools, the children are made to wear a graduation cap and robe on their awards day to say they have completed grade R.

Some say the concept of the hat and robe is one of Egyptian/Islamic origin and has Islamic connotations.

1. Is it permissible to make the grade R students of an Islamic school wear the hat and robe?

2. What would be an appropriate, Islamic way of acknowledging their achievements?

3. Further, is it permissible for Muslims who qualify with degrees at universities to wear the above?

Please advise regarding the above.

Q: I would like to know the validity of the talaq given to me by my husband. He said talaq three times in one go out of anger. There were a few people present to hear the talaq and straight after, he called my father and said ‘I've given your daughter talaq come and take her’.

Currently we are living separately and we have three children together.

Also, when and how long does my iddah start. At the time of the talaq I was on my menses.

Q: If a lady is mazoor, and she reads her tahujjud namaaz and didn't move from her place and fajr time set in. Does she have to go and make fresh wudhu?

Q: Does my hair turning greasy naturally after not washing it for like 3 days form a barrier so my masah for wudu isn’t valid?

Q: If a person leaves his home for a place beyond a safr distance to go and study. His plan is only to remain there for the period of his studies e.g. 4 years. He does not regard the place of study as his home. If he stays in the place of study for less than 15 days, then will he be regarded as a mussafir?

Q: Chinese Sumi ink is used in certain types of Arabic calligraphy. I have recently found out that this ink is made using gelatine/animal glue from cows or rabbits. As there is no way to determine whether the gelatine is from halal slaughtered animals, is it permissible to use this ink for writing? In particular writing the Names and Praises of Allah Ta'ala and Aayat of the Quraan Majeed?

Q: Is it permissible to eat non Muslim foods offered to gods and during their festivals?

Q: Red wine grape extract is extracted with the remains of grapes (seeds, skin, etc.) after the fermentation process is completed of the wine. The remains of grapes are also dipped in fermentation solution... but the alcohol percentage in the extract is very small and according to some no alcohol. The alcohol is removed. is it impure or pure in skin toners or cosmetics?

This process of red wine extract is typically made from the skins and seeds of red grapes. The process involves crushing the grapes and fermenting the mixture to produce wine. After fermentation, the solid parts, including the skins and seeds, are separated from the liquid. The remaining solids are then dried and processed to create a concentrated red wine extract, which can be used for various purposes, including dietary supplements and skincare products. Is it pure or impure?