Interest and Gambling

Charging a person one's expenses to deliver a loan to him

Q: With regards to these two fatwas, I have the following questions: 

https://muftionline.co.za/node/36923
https://muftionline.co.za/node/36922

My questions is as follows:

وَفِي الشَّرِيعَةِ: الرِّبَا: هُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْخَالِي عَنْ الْعِوَضِ الْمَشْرُوطِ فِي الْبَيْعِ؛ المبسوط للسرخسي

How will you explain this definition of riba in relation to the mas’alah in question? 

I have three objections: 

1. The extra amount is not necessarily خاليًا عن العوض (free of consideration). There is a service or benefit being provided in return for the amount charged. So how can this extra amount be described as a “surplus without consideration”? 

2. The extra amount is not مشروطًا في العقد (stipulated in the contract). The definition specifically refers to an excess that is stipulated in the sale. If this extra amount was not stipulated as a condition in the original contract, then how does it fall under this definition of riba? 

3. More importantly, how would it even be possible to pay the bank transaction fees in the first place? According to the qiyās presented in the mas’alah, paying the bank a fee gives them an additional benefit. If every additional benefit received by the lender is treated as riba on this basis, then what would be the basis for allowing bank transaction fees?

Charging the EFT charges when giving someone a loan

Q: My friend asked me for a loan of R10 000. He said that he will pay me back the R10 000 after a week. There is no extra amount that I asked him to pay over and above the R10 000. However, since he asked me to eft the amount to him through which my bank will charge me R7, I asked him to pay my bank charges i.e. to pay the R7 which my bank will be charging me to do the eft. Is it permissible for me to take the R7 from him for the eft charge?

Getting involved in an interest transaction

Q: My daughter works in a health company. Few days back one of her colleagues asked for 1000 dirhams from each person to give daman company and in return they will get 2500 all together. So she also gave without thinking how this works. Later when asked, we came to know that it’s a reimbursement of a fake bill of Ayurvedic treatment which is included in her insurance card but she didn’t actually do any such treatment. Now it’s time to get the given 1000 dhs plus extra 1500 dhs (reimbursement).

Is it permitted in Islam to use that money? What do I do?

Building an online platform where gaming organizations host skill-based tournaments and charge an entry fee

Q: Is it permissible to build an online platform where gaming organizations can host skill-based tournaments and charge an entry fee per slot? I am not playing the game myself — I am only providing the technology as a service and taking a small platform fee. Is this halal?"

Charging a fee to join a tournament on a PC game and giving prizes

Q: I host tournaments on a game called Fortnite. People pay me a fee. Everyone to take part in these tournaments, and I pick a few of them every weekend to take part in the tournament. I give the top 3 prizes and sometimes cash rewards, prizes like perfumes, clothes etc. 

Is this what I am doing halaal earned money, I make profit of this too.

Opening a bank account that accrues interest

Q: Is it permissible to have a Capitec bank account? All Capitec bank accounts (global one) pay out interest regardless of the account type. It's not possible to stop this even if one asks them. 

Is it permissible to open this account? Then to give away the interest to some poor people or relief organisation without hope of reward. 

There are other banks who have interest free accounts.