Business and Dealings

Q: I work with non-muslims where we sit four in a room. They have a radio and music is played for the entire duration of the day. This off course has a huge affect on my concentration, ability to perform zikr and on my heart as I do not listen to music Alhamdulillah. This at times becomes intolerable but I cannot do anything about it as this will not be understood by anyone. I so desire to find myself in a work environment where it is peaceful and where the praises of Allah Ta'ala can be made in abundance. What is my position and your advice. Please make dua for me for Allah Ta'ala to change my condition. Ameen.

Q: I took/stole some money when I was much younger and I am not sure whether I took zakaat or lillah money. Now when I am going to put the money back, what must I write on the envelope (because I'm not sure what money it was).

Q: What is the solution to long terms and conditions? I need to make a PayPal account but before I can register it says something like "I confirm I have read, consent and agree to the User Agreement and Privacy Policy" but these I read contain 36,000 something words! It is a waste of time and I want to know if I am allowed to just tick "Yes", because I don't want to lie, but I need to use the service, please give me your advice. Is being ambiguous ok? Like, if I find a program that "reads" the terms and conditions, for example if I click "Read" and the program "reads it" so technically I could say ambiguously "I have read ... " and so on.

Q: In Saudi Arabia, the Toyota Cars company will sell the car on installment and the procedure is as follows: (1) First of all they will make an agreement, that they are giving this car on rental basis and fix some amount as a monthly rent. (2) After completing 4 or 5 years, they will sell the car to the same person who took for 4 to 5 years on a rental basis, by considering that now, this car is second hand car and hence they will take some lumpsome amount of SAR 15,000/- or SAR 20,000/- etc. Lastly they will transfer the car to that party. (3) Is it permissible to take the car as above said procedure based on Islam. (4) Please clarify and reply me.

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?