Loans & Debts

Charging a penalty for late payment and calling it admin fees

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.

Making an effort to repay the loan

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.

Repaying a loan in a foreign currency

Q: Zaid is in Dubai. Aslam, from Pakistan, is in need of some loan. Zaid does not have a foreign currency account in Pakistan, so when Zaid transfers 2000 dirhams to Aslam, Aslam receives Pakistani rupees equivalent to 2000 dirhams. After one year, the Pakistani rupee value has dropped, now will Aslam return the same amount 2000 dirhams or Pakistani rupees that he received a year back? Or should he return the rupees equivalent to current value of 2000 dirhams?