Business and Dealings

Compiling a directory

Q:

1. A person is compiling a directory. Is it permissible for him to include the following places with their addresses and telephone numbers in the directory; escort agencies, liquor stores, churches, temples, casinos etc?

2. If someone asks you to assist him to find the addresses and telephone numbers of the following places; escort agencies, liquor stores, churches, temples, casinos etc, is it permissible for you to assist him in this regard?

Studying to become a physical therapist

Q: I am a Muslim (guy) college student. If I study to become a Physical therapist for the sake/pleasure of Allah:

a.) Will Allah accept it?

b.) Does my going everyday to school become a worship (Ammal)?

c.) Does my studying of major subjects,exams,quizzes day and night become a worship?

d.) Can this become a source to gain the pleasure of Allah? And also can this act be included as one of the good deeds that can make me enter Jannah?

Money received through referring people to sign up for a TV package

Q: Recently one of my colleague asked me if I have TV package, which I have, she said, she is about to join sky but If I refer her then I will get 125£ and she will get 125£ too. I have done this so I'm not sure if that money would be halal or not since I don't know what type of benefit will she get from TV as I don't want to become a chain of any kind of sin. What would you suggest? Shall I return that money to her or shall I just give it to someone in charity?

Hiring a non-Muslim artisan instead of a Muslim

Q: There are two artisans I can deal with, one non-Muslim and another Muslim, the non-Muslim goes out of his way to give us excellent service, with good prices etc. the Muslim unfortunately does not offer excellent service we have chosen the non-Muslim but the thought crosses our mind that is it the correct thing to do. I mean ignoring Muslims and giving business to non-Muslims rather. I also give Dawat to him sometimes on the phone or maybe with paying on time etc. What is the respected Mufti Sahebs advice in this regard?

Boycotting

Q: The topic is always discussed of boycotting certain countries products because they are oppressors. I feel that it is not feasible for few reasons:

1. The boycott will require abstaining from thousands of products that are being utilised and not just one product or one company. I mean why should we single out only company e.g. woolworths.

2. There is no unity in Muslim community when calls for boycotts are made.

3. What difference will a Muslim minority make in boycotting certain companies? What is the respected Mufti Sahebs advice in this regard?

Asking for a refund due to the purchased item being faulty

Q: I purchased a second hand aircon from a fellow Muslim brother. He promised me that its works perfectly. I took his word on it and paid him R2000.00 to install it. R1500 for the unit and R500 for installation. However the aircon did not work from day 1. I kept on messaging him for 2 months that its not working but he kept insisting it is and he continued ignoring my messages. I got fed-up and asked him to please remove it as its not working. Without my knowledge he came to the house after the 2 month period when my dad was there to repair it, and he admitted to my dad its not working. He said he will bring the parts to repair however I told him to remove it. He then took 3 weeks to come and remove it and told my dad he will do a bank transfer for the refund. A week later after messages after messages he only refunds me R1000.00 and tells me that because of his time and labour he is only refunding half my money. When I explained to him the unit costs R1500.00 as per his invoice he said no the unit was R1000.00 but when I sent him a picture of his invoice he admitted its R1500.00 and he will only refund the R500.00. It is now gone a week and he has gone back to ignoring my messages and no refund has been received. I ask you respected mufti, what must the total refund be? Should it not be for the full R2000.00 because the aircon did not work at all. Can I lay a charge of theft against this person.

Home Financing through an Islamic Bank

Q: Our community bank offers Shari’ah compliant home financing which is structured as follows:

1) The Muslim buyer will select the property and the bank will purchase it with a contract for immediate resale to the Muslim purchaser for a fixed amount that will include the bank’s profit.

2) The Muslim buyer will be given a fixed price that will not vary with interest rates.

3) The Muslim buyer will have to sign a contract to buy the house from the bank before the bank purchases the property from the original seller.

4) The bank states that they will take a loan on which they pay interest from a secondary source to finance such a purchase. 

5) The bank states that the buyer will have to insure the property.

Is this form of finance permissible and Shari’ah compliant?