Loans & Debts

Q: We have a credit card account with FNB which hasn't been paid for about 1 and a half years. Over the period that the account was not paid, interest was levied to the account. I'm not to sure of the exact amount of interest which was levied on the account, but I have requested the amount. I'm awaiting their response. 

The account is currently handled by the banks attorneys and they have recently emailed us stating that the bank is willing to give us a settlement discount of 40% if the account is paid by the 29th of this month (November). 

Will it be fine for us to accept the settlement discount and settle this account as we don't have the money to pay the entire balance on the account and ان شاء الله a few friends will be willing to help us pay the account if we can settle with the settlement discount amount. 

Q: I live with my parents, and over the past few months, I've made some online purchases using my father's credit card (with his permission). Since there have been quite a few transactions, I’d like to repay him but it would take a bit of time to track every individual purchase. 

Is it permissible if I give my father an amount that is more than the total of my purchases, ensuring I cover the minimum amount I owe him? 

For example, if the purchases total $1000, I would return something like $1200 to cover any uncertainty.

Q: The government I live in help the citizens with a payment of the house or flat when you are moving and give you a support/loan. The loan is interest free the first 5 years so you don’t have to pay the interest and their intention is to help out the citizens because it’s in the law. You can make a plan with them that they take every month from my student allowance until the loan is paid and it will be interest free. Can I take this loan or is it haram?

Q: Zaid owes Amr money. Zaid wins the lottery and pays Amr with the money that he won. Amr knows it's lottery money. Is it permissible for Amr to accept it and use it?

Q: I am metal importer. I have less capital available as compared to my business volume. I want to do financing. What is best way to finance without interest. I don't want to do partnerships.

Please guide and suggest .

Q: I lent some money to my cousin a few months ago. If he takes an interest based loan from the bank to return my money. Am I allowed to take my money back from such arrangements. I did not ask or force him to take a loan/Riba to return my money. Just asking him to return my money back as the agreement date is nearing.

Q: If a debtor takes an interest based loan to return our due money. Are we allowed to take our money back from such an arrangement.

We are not asking/ forcing them to take the loan to return our money but just demanding our money as the term due is nearing.

Q: Is it permissible to buy a house from An Nahl. If the house is 600 000 for example, they put up a mark up of 7 % if you pay within 10 months, a mark up of 10% if you pay within 24 months and so on and so forth. It's fixed profits. Please let me know if its permissible? 

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 have taken some money from a friend from Australia. While taking the money, I planned to work abroad so that I can earn big amounts and pay back the money. I want to ask that now I am not in a condition to return the money. Is that a sin for me? What should I do? The person hasn't asked me for the money, and knows that I am not in a financial condition to return the money.