Business and Dealings

Q: A layperson says that even though copyright is haraam, it is nevertheless unethical and against Islamic spirit to copy and freely distribute copyright materials. As in doing so, the company that had produced such copyrighted material in fact loses large numbers of potential customers who had rather opted for the free, pirated copy instead. He says that such behaviour is Islamically unethical as many companies are being deprived of business and customers. His issue is not with copyright, but with those people who freely distribute otherwise costly copyrighted materiel or resell it cheaply. His says such people are unethical and un-Islamic in spirit - but not that there actions are impermissible. He then cites a 2010 report that claims the global loss to software piracy is over $50 billion as a support of his argument. Is there any substance to his claims on the basis of taqwa, ethics, and Islamic spirit?

Q: Is my income haraam if my husband is unhappy with my business?

Q: Zaid, Umar, and Bakr are friends. Zaid has an item in his hand and asks Umar, "Umar, do you want this?" Umar replies in the affirmative. Zaid then places the item on the table in front of him. Umar leaves the room without the item. He intends fetching the item later on. Bakr is not aware of all this. Later in the day, Umar sees Bakr going home with the same item. When Umar asks Zaid about this, Zaid replies: "You did not take physical possession of the item. I thought you never want this gift. That is why I gave it to Bakr." Umar objects saying that he responded in the affirmative when Zaid asked if he wanted the item.

1. Who truly owns the item?

2. Is it true that since Umar did not take physical possession of the item, it still belongs to the original owner, Zaid?

Q: I have been offered a job as a mail sorter with a postal company. I will simply order and arrange post, letter and parcels and check the postage has been paid. But some women work there although they work in a different section so I would not have to look of mix with them at all, they also play music in the background. Is this a halaal job? Please note that I live in the UK and most jobs here contain some haram things like alcohol, haram foods, haram clothes, gambling, riba, free mixing, Christmas, easter gifts cards and presents. I am very poor so I can't do hijrah to a Muslim country and my mother is forcing me to do this job as we are in need.

Q: Can I write articles and sell it by taking it from the web and books?

Q: Is drifting and overspeeding of a car haraam. Because recently my friends met with and accident and two of them died. My other question is that I heard that you will be risen on the day of judgement the way you die. How far is this true?

Q: My question is that if there are points offered by Credit Card, can we use them or not? Are they haraam or Halaal?

Q: I want to make videos on YouTube in which I review children’s toys. My face will not be visible in the video. All you will see in the video is my hands and the toy. The toys will mostly be play dough, animal figures and human figures. Please advise if this is permissible.

Q: Are we allowed to work in a bank because the bank system is based on sood?

Q: A person prints a personal email, document, etc., from his employer. There is a subtle allowance and a fair use policy in place. As a Muslim, is there anything forbidden in this practice?