Business and Dealings

Q: I want to buy furniture for my house as I am shifting to a new flat. But I can't really pay cash currently. But the shopkeeper is charging interest on that. So is it permissible? I have heard that if I know the total increased price then it is permissible. e.g If I buy a car now I have to pay 8000 but on instalments the new price will be 10,000. But they increase it and say that its the interest rate. However I know the final price so is it permissible?

Q: I am working as a business development executive for a company which develops software for theatres, food court and parking. However, the software has no concern with movie, it is being used for ticketing purposes. Moreover, my company supplys computers to theatres on rental basis for ticketing purposes. Kindly, guide me whether my job is valid as per our shariat.

Q: I would appreciate your guidance on the following two queries/issues.

Query/Issue #1: I will refer to two individuals as “Person A” and “Person B”. Person A had 2 packets containing money. These packets were given to Person B by mistake. The same day, Person A had informed Person B of the mistake and requested that these parcels be returned. Person A had a full account and record of the money, who it belonged to, date and amounts. Unfortunately Person B has now taken “ownership” of this money parcels unjustly and does not want to acknowledge nor accept Person A version and has discarded all these records that was with the parcels. Person A has taken an oath that the money parcels belongs to Person A. What is the Sharia ruling (Islamic ruling) on who has the right to these money parcels.

Query/Issue #2: If some money was left in trust with an individual, and such money was taken unjustly and without neglect by the responsible individual, is this individual liable for returning and/or executing on the instruction of such money?

Q: If I loan someone money, for example, I loan someone R10 and we agree that they will pay me R15 in 10 months time, R5 more than what I loaned them, is that extra money considered interest?

Q: I'd like to know, I'm applying for my learners licence through a contact. It works like this: I give him R1500 he guarantees me that I'll pass even if I write the wrong answers. I have to write the test and pay the normal fees also, is it permissible?

Q: Is there any way to take a loan in an Islamic way? What about Islamic banks?

Q: What is "Mudhaarabah"? Is it halaal for Muslims to do? If yes, in what cases it will be permissible?

Q: A person works in an accounting firm in USA where his main job is to do book keeping and monthly sales tax returns. He also does personal income tax and business income tax yearly. A situation arises where his boss ask him to fill out a client's previous three years business income tax based off estimation. The revenue will be reported accurately, however expenses will all be estimated to show a loss for the past three years. Is this permissible to do or no? Secondly, is it permissible to intentionally exaggerate expenses to reduce the amount of tax that will be paid to the government? Lastly, will it be permissible to estimate certain income and expense figures that are not available? Pertaining to the last question, even the best accounting system does require some level of estimation. First question is regarding the permissibility of the action. Second is that if this is 20% of his job, is his income halaal?  Some level of detail will be greatly appreciated. JazakAllah for your answer.

Q: Few common bank related queries:

1) Zaid had a debit card with Conventional Bank International for many years. Later on the bank introduced a points system of rewarding the users of the debit card for the purchasers made with the card. The value of points awarded have no relationship with his bank balance and therefore its not given as a benefit of a loan made. The bank receives a commission from the supplier for every purchase made by the purchaser and in turn filters some of the benefits back to the purchaser via a points system. Will these points be permissible for the cardholder to use.

2) Some scholars view deposits held by the bank as qabda of amaan with the ijaazat of tasarruf. Does hazrat agree with this?

3) Is it permissible to accept gifts in general from banks.