Business and Dealings

Q: Is it permissible to utilize government funds (especially in such a country were Hindus are rulers and where unislamic laws are enforced) where the meat of a pig is not considered haraam. Where alcoholic substances are sold without any ban. Where Muslims are treated as downtrodden and ignorant. In such a country where all means of earning are against the principles of Islam, can we use goverment funds for construction of toilets and bathrooms in the premises of a masjid (mosque) only meant for making wudhu etc. These things can be used only during prayer times because they remain locked almost all the times and people cannot use the all the time.

Q: I have a saving account and the bank is giving interest on my account every quarterly. Is the interest haram in shariyah? Accordingly to shariyah, what should I do with that money? Can I donate it to poor people or give it to poor and needy needy relatives?

Q: I am a farmer and supply milk to shops. Almost all the other farmers sell their milk at a low price because they add water to the milk. The customers are aware of this as well. If I sell my milk without water, nobody will buy it because it will be more expensive than the milk with the water. If I inform my customers and mutually agree with them to add water to the milk, will it be permissible?

Q: I have a house. I borrow some money from one person and I give him my house for one year. After one year, I take back my house and pay back his money. Is this permissible?

Q: I have purchased tomato sauce for resale; however, the tomato sauce is past the manufacturer’s best before date. I am in the food industry for the past 20 years and I know that the tomato sauce will not go bad by the date reflected by the manufacturer. In fact, the item is still good for another one year after the best before date. I wish to get the item tested by an independent food technologist and then adjust the date on the packaging to the date the independent food technologist recommends. Will it be permissible for me to adjust the date or will this fall under deception?

Q: If it is merely suspected that a tenant buys and sells stolen goods, is it incumbent on the landlord to terminate that tenant’s tenancy?

Q: I'm a private tutor. Sometimes I can not deliver my 100% to my work. Now is my salary halal or haram?

Q: A person has an investment in a unit trust from the 1970's. The unit trust was not shariah compliant, and thus included investments in alcohol/gambling based companies, interest based financial institutions, as well as ordinary companies.

1. Is it permissible to utilise dividends received from the unit trust to pay income tax for a business?

2. Is it permissible to offset these dividends received from the unit trust against income tax that is deducted from a persons salary by his employer? If this is permissible, can it be offset against amounts deducted for income tax in previous years (as the dividends were already received then, and tax deducted then), or would it only be permissible going forward (as dividends are received and income tax deducted)?

Q:

1. Some one is on rent and they are still on rent and he has sold his house for 27 lacs and he has not still enough money to purchase a house in which all family members be settled. And now he is trying to purchase a house in a sense so that he can fulfil his current financial problems (for giving current rent in which they are still living), through rent income. It is permissible in Islam to purchase a house and allow it on rent , the income of this house is use for the rent of a house in which someone is rented.

2. It is permissible in Islam to invest the payment of sold house in a National savings centre in that sense to gain the fixed amount for a month (e.g. 9000) so some one can fulfil his financial problems (for giving current rent in which they are still living).

Q: I have been investing in shares for the past two years and I have earned a good amount of profit so far. When investing, I avoid buying shares in companies such as banks, insurance companies, companies manufacturing and selling liquor, etc. I only invest in companies of which the main business is halaal. However, when I look at the financial statements of the companies, I find that these companies do have interest dealings and some other haraam elements in their operation. Will it be permissible for me to invest in these companies? Also, will the profits earned through the investment be halaal?