Gifts

Doubts regarding the income of the person giving the gift

Q: A Muslim relative is known to have been involved in taking drugs and alcohol. I do not know the source of his income i.e. whether he even deals in drugs or not. He has been in and out of rehab many times. I do not know his current condition. He sends a gift for me.

(1) Is this gift permissible for me?

(2) If it is not permissible, must it be given in charity without the intention of reward?

Taking back a gift

Q: A young aalim mentioned that it is permissible to take back a gift, although undesirable and in the hadith it is likened to a dog swallowing it's own vomit Is this correct? If I give someone a gift and give full ownership to the person I can take it back at any time?

Taking possession of the gift

Q: Zaid, Umar, and Bakr are friends. Zaid has an item in his hand and asks Umar, "Umar, do you want this?" Umar replies in the affirmative. Zaid then places the item on the table in front of him. Umar leaves the room without the item. He intends fetching the item later on. Bakr is not aware of all this. Later in the day, Umar sees Bakr going home with the same item. When Umar asks Zaid about this, Zaid replies: "You did not take physical possession of the item. I thought you never want this gift. That is why I gave it to Bakr." Umar objects saying that he responded in the affirmative when Zaid asked if he wanted the item.

1. Who truly owns the item?

2. Is it true that since Umar did not take physical possession of the item, it still belongs to the original owner, Zaid?

Vouchers at stores

Q: Please advise if the following store credit and voucher operations are permissible: (1) "Earn credit by referring your friends to shop on [online store]. Simply invite friends to sign-up via email and you will earn R100 store credit when each one spends R200 or more for the first time." (2) "Employees will be paid via vouchers that can be used to purchase commodities from [so-and-so] store. Vouchers cannot be redeemed for cash. It is not possible to use such vouchers at a store other than the one stipulated."

Parents who are non-Muslims supplying one medication through their medical insurance

Q: I have a question regarding my current situation. I am a full time student at a madersah and I have a mental disability. I am a revert and my parents (who are non muslims) fund my medication. I just recently remembered that they have health insurance and that they have been using it. I was aware of it this whole time but I totally forgot it was harram. In my case, is it possible to continue this or should I stop taking medication from them?

Exchanging gifts

Q: There is a custom in some communities, that is; when we give some prepared food to our neighbor or somebody they always give back something which they prepared, in the same plate in return. The problem is, when nothing is found in their home they refuse to return our plate empty and say that, "I will give later"because of custom. Is this an act of sunnah to give back something as hadya in the same plate when one receives hadya from a neighbor or someone else?