Business and Dealings

Q: Your answer on installing an ATM refers : "since it is possible for one to withdraw interest bearing loans through this medium, it will not be permissible to install an ATM on one’s premises as one will be aiding in the sin of riba (interest)."

Question: 1) Will it not fall in the category of having a dual purpose as it is possible to withdraw halaal savings also. The property owner cannot be responsible for someone that uses the ATM for a wrong purpose similar to the sale of grapes?

2) If the illat is "the possibility of withdrawing interest bearing loans" then till point credit card machines should also be impermissible as a person whose account is already in overdraft is in fact paying by using "interest bearing loans " irrespective of using the budget or straight option of payment.

Q: Please give me guidance regarding the following:

1. We have an agreement with most of our suppliers that all accounts are to be paid within 30 days from date of statement. We receive a settlement discount of 2.5% only if we pay our account within the specified time (30 days from statement). Is this permissible?

2. In some instances, we pay a few accounts later than 30 days from statement (between 3 and 5 days later) and we are still allowed the 2.5% settlement discount from our supplier. Is this permissible?

3. If we sometimes have any extra cash flow, then is it permissible for us to call our suppliers and negotiate an extra settlement discount? For early payment of our account (that is paying our account in the same month that we purchased the goods, not 30 days from statement, but on the day we receive the statement) we are offered an extra 1.5% early settlement discount. So instead of the 2.5% only we receive a 4% settlement discount for early settlement. Is this permissible?

Q: When I was a kid (5-6 years age), I remember that I stole a balloon from my classmate's bag. Now, when I am a grown up, I've realised that I've committed a sin. I've repented by heart to Allah. I tried to find my classmate and apologize to her but she is no more in my school. I don't know where she is now. What should I do now?

Q: Zaid is in a country which is a country of kuffar (kuffar rulers, dominant kuffar population, elected body making laws is all kuffar). However there Muslims living there and there are hundreds of mosques, even medaris for religious education. There are some areas where Muslims presence is clearly felt. Zaid went there for higher education and finished his masters degree and then got a very good job of his field. The employer organization arranged for his permanent residence permit to work freely there. He wants to come back to a Muslim country. But, he will get much higher salary and many benefits if he has the citizenship of this biladul-kuffar. So people are advising him to first get the citizenship and then return your home country. Is it jaíz for Zaid to apply for citizenship that will require finally an oath of allegiance (giving up allegiance to his country of birth and declare allegiance to this country of kuffar?). Some say the required oath is only a political allegiance and not a religious allegiance because their constitution give complete freedom of religion.

Q: What is the masalah regarding selling 2 live chickens for 2 proceeded chickens (cut/sliced/packed). Is it permissible?

Q: This question is regarding and old mutual annuity fund.

1.) Am I allowed to use the profits from this fund?

2.) If not, can I use the profits from this fund for renovations or Building a room for my domestic workers?

3.) What other options do I have in using these profits?

Q: I had three questions regarding interest:

1. Is a mortgage (on interest) permissible in Islam to purchase a family home?

2. If my parents are pressuring me into purchasing a family home through mortgage rather than renting, am I under obligation to listen to them?

3. If I make a total of the amount of interest my father pays on a regular basis with the intention of persuading him to reduce his loans, is this permissible, and would this be considered “recording interest” which is forbidden in hadith?

Q: Where I work, we offer the 2.5% settlement discount for all customers if they pay their account within 30 days. This is a practice followed by the business over 30 years and all major customers take this if the ones that pay by the 7th of the following month. we allow this although it is not within the period. is this 2.5% also not allowed. Also, with our holding company (foreign based), we get a 3% discount if we pay the invoices within 14 days from when goods are invoiced. if we pay after 14 days, we cannot take the discount and our credit terms intra group is 60 days. Please let us know whether the practices are allowed as I am in charge of the payments.

Q: I'm from India. My question is can we Muslims living in non Muslim country like India can we vote for the democratical leader and can Muslims living in non muslim country such as India form a political party? I mean to ask is, is it right stay politically active in our country?

Q: Is it haram to work throughout the night till early morning?