Business and Dealings

Q: Can we do a job in which we get employed through recruiting offices/agencies who take some commission (usually some percent from their first salary) from the candidates they employ and the company whom they recruit these candidates. Sometimes they take commission from the company only and keep totally free from the candidates, they do not take commission from the candidates.

In both the above scenarios, will the job for the candidates be haraam? Will the income, etc or anything be haraam? Will it be a sin? And what if they take fees and not commission from the candidates and may take commission from the company then what will be the answer? It's not impossible but it is quite difficult to find jobs without the help of recruiting agencies/companies. 

Q: I am a publisher of magazines and have now entered into newspaper publishing. There are businesses that wish to have their adverts appear in our publications e.g. haraam butcheries, supermarkets advertising alcohol and the people that claim to “bring back lost love” and other claims to the supernatural. Am I allowed to publish these kinds of adverts?

Q: We have a business and one of our products is bottled water. We were using a supplier to bottle water for us, who was renting a plot from someone else. The owner of the plot passed away. So now our supplier has chosen to move his operation into his other business which is a bottle store... we not sure if we should continue or find someone else? He has moved it to a cold room in the liquor store with only water in the room and no liquor... He still invoices us from his other company as was previously done.

Q: As you are aware about the corruption in the government presently..we have a building which houses the poor community,which has a common water meter..for some time now there's been a slow reading of the meter. We are passing this benefit on to the tenants,  if we have to inform the municipality..the benefit will stop to the tenants and the rent will increase by R300-00 per unit. The question is should I inform the municipality or let the tenants benefit considering all the corruption taking place.

Q: I am working in a shipping company. My company is giving 3 lakhs insurance coverage. I am not paying any money for the insurance. Can I take this money for hospitalisation or other purposes?

Q: What is the status of our currency i.e. rands and dollars? Is it thaman (money) or mabee’ (sale commodity)? In other words, what is the Islamic position on fiat money which is the currency of the majority of the world today? Some say that it is haraam and riba as the money of the Quraan Majeed and Sunnah is gold dinars and silver dirhams which have “intrinsic value”, while today’s money is backed by interest. What is the proof in the Quraan Majeed and Sunnah?

Q: I am a taxi driver. My boss put a telephone service in all the taxis. Hotels call us to take their costumers to the airport or in the city. For this service we need to pay a commission to the hotel, is it right?

Q: My father purchased 10 shops in our country while he was in USA. Due to his trouble travelling back to have it registered in his name he told his father to have it recorded on his name and he would transfer it once he comes back. Few years passed and the father passed away. After that there were family issues and they transferred the owner ship from the fathers name to his brothers named. Now when his status is good to travel and his family has grown Alhumdulilah, he wants the property back onto his name. Now all the brothers and sisters are saying that it is their father's property as it was under his name. My father has proof of payment and everything but yes, unfortunately the property was under his father's name and not his name. He always mentioned to his father that one day I will have it under my name but never could. Now, can he ask for the property back as he is the one who purchased it. 

Q: The company that I work for is a foreign company so they give me gross salary every month. They do not deduct any tax from my pay. Should I pay tax or not?

Q: There is an investment company. The company sells sand for building purposes and transports people in busses. You can choose anyone you like to invest in. I chose of sand, then the chairman gave me form to fill, I filled, and I invested the sum of 100, 000 naira. Then the chairman signed the form that after 13 months I should come and collect 230, ooo naira both my capital and profits. 100, 000 naira my capital and 130, 000 naira is the profits. I shouldn't collect until on fixed signed date and amount fixed in the form at the beginning. They wouldn't charge me for any loss or accident when happens during the transaction because they have registered in insurance company, the insurance company will handle any losses. And the amount of profits the chairman of the company wrote down in the form at the beginning is the exactly what l should get after the date of agreement comes. Is this halal? What is your view?