Business and Dealings

Q: I have a job offer from an American Corporation (group of companies) which mainly deals with oil, gas and petroleum industry around the world (about 95% of its business is with this sector). This company has many subdivisions. My work will be in a sub division of the company that only deals with oil, gas and petroleum equipment and customers in the middle east only. But I also came to know that one of the subdivisions of this company in USA/UK makes equipment for naval forces of western military. This business would be not more than 3-4 % of their total earnings. I will not be working in this division at all! Is it okay to accept the offer with the oil, gas and petroleum division and work for this company.

Q: One of the banks in my residence country is offering a short term interest free loan. I am only interested in using this loan because it is interest free. It has a fixed processing fees (1 % of the amount of loan) and a onetime fixed insurance fees to be paid. Can you please advise, if it is alright to utilize this loan.

Q: I have 5 bank accounts in india and all are giving interest on my deposited money. when i got interest i will write in my diary date and amount and after all banks have given interest i will add and sent all the amount to charity like patient or orphan for education etc. but this amount i will sent from one bank. my question is my method do doing interest money is correct or shall i withdraw cash from each bank separtely and pay for charity. please expplain the right method of interest payment.

Q: I purchased a land combined with my brother and my name with my money which he knows, later again I purchased a land in both names with my money which he does not know. Now if we sell both land combinedly signed then what is the ruling about sold money? According to Islamic law, is he entitled to get the share of sold money? If he is entitled to get, then he will get share of total land or the share of land part he knows ? It is mentioned that with the intention to live together in same city I purchased the land in both name but after he got married then he is no more interested to live here and living in separate city with his family.

Q:

1. What is the ruling on the income generated by working for a newspaper. The newspapers contain pictures, news which have the elements of backbiting, blaming, etc. Can we eat from the homes of these newspaper owners or their employees? They are close relatives and it will be difficult not to eat/drink while visiting them?

2. How about eating at the homes of bank emoloyees in the similar situation of being close relatives? Would the sin be greater if we eat there than eating in  the newspaper employees?

Q: Old Mutual life insurance investment funds.

1. If the family gets paid out from such an investment, will it be permissible for them to use that money?

2. If not, can it be given to a family member legible for zakaat or to pay Sars, fines etc.

Q: What is the ruling on selling expired goods at a Muslim owned store? Customers are not told that the goods are expired and when they had expired.

Q: While I was studying at university (in the UK) I regrettably took out a student loan due to my lack of deen at the time, now I have come to realise that this was totally impermissible and wish to make amends.

According to the terms of the loan, I do not need to repay the loan if I earn below £17,775 per annum. The loan will be written off if I do not earn above this threshold after 25 years. I can repay the loan (plus interest) and make taubah but I feel very uncomfortable with this. My other option, which I am fully prepared to undergo, is that I continue to earn below the threshold for the next 25 years. I want to know:

1. Whether it is permissible to deliberately earn less in order to avoid paying any interest?

2. Whether I should repay the loan (through voluntary payments) but not the interest?

3. Whether I should simply repay every thing and just make taubah thereafter?

Q: I am an accounting student and have little concern with regards to the system we make our payments and possibility of any interest involved in the payments. Our payments include the examination fee payed few days before the examination session and an annual subscription fee to remain an active student.

Firstly, the examination payments can be made in three periods. The earliest the payment made, the lowest would be the payment. However, sometimes due to late examination decisions the early payment period passes by and we have to make standard payment that is higher than early payment. Is the difference between the early and standard fee considered as interest? I have heard that all penalties arising due to late payment are haram and therefore the higher amount payed as a result of not being able to pay in the early period for some reason a kind of penalty. It is also possible that the extra amount is to encourage most students to make payment as early as possible.

Second, I have heard that the annual subscription payed every year to remain an active student involves interest. Is that true? This would be a lifetime payment even after I qualify to remain an active member. Does it involve any kind of interest or penalty?

Q: I am a mother of a 1 year old child. I want to do "educational insurance policy" for my son. Is subject policy allowed in Islam?