Business and Dealings

Q: Interest is considered to be a strong haraam and a grave sin, but isn't interest needed as a fundamental basis for starting a bank and being able to
hand out loans?

Q: Although bribes are prohibited in Islam the situation in my country is such that the government officials depend on bribes without which our work does not get done and we suffer the consciences of the work not getting done. In other words it is a ZULM on us from which we have no escape. Under these circumstances can one utilise interest money to overcome this situation. Please advice.

Q: I have made my life insurance for which I paid 100000 RS for 5 years but someone told me that it is against sharia to get insurance. Birla sun life insurance company have put my money in investment and my fund value is 565000 RS. I want to take my money out from the insurance company now my question is that profit of 65000 is valid and if it is not valid then can I take it from the insurance company and give to help my Muslim brother? If I pay it to my cousin who needs to get her kitchen done, can she use that money to build the kitchen?

Q: I live in Taif, KSA.  Please tell me if what I did was Halal or Haram. I was having a strong headache, so I went to a cafe to get coffee. I drink coffee without milk. The restaurant person made it very strong. When I left the place, I realised that it was too strong to be able to be taken. Next, I wanted to sit somewhere and drink it close by as it was hot and the sun was beating on the head. I was also hungry. So, I went to a local sandwich shop 2 shops away from the coffee. I ordered a sandwich and sat down trying to drink coffee but it was too strong. So, I paid for the sandwich and sat down eating it as I was hungry at that time. The owner made the sandwich and went inside the premises to prepare for the evening meals. The assistant was cleaning the tables, chairs etc. When I finished the sandwich, I asked the assistant for the owner. He said he is inside and asked me if he could be of assistance. I told him, that since the coffee is very strong, I need a few drops of milk to make it easy for me to drink it. So, he fetched me a tin of condensed milk- almost about to finish with may be just very little left inside. He told me to use it. I did it, and then he said if its finished throw it away. But, after a while, I thought if the owner comes to know about it, of course, I don't think he will mind, but how much compliant would he be with the assistant's action? I thought of telling the owner and pay him a riyal more for the milk, but then it occurred to me that if I did so, may be the assistant's image might get damaged in the eyes of the owner that he does things without his permission (though the quantity of the milk in the tin was very less and perhaps the owner might have done the same thing as the assistant) and he might loose his job. So, I finished my cup of coffee and came back home, confused, that was the coffee that I drank haram? Please tell me what to do and how to explain the owner?

Q: The other day, I ordered a pizza online, and paid with my mother's visa debit card. My mother allowed me to use it. I didn't have enough money in my own visa debt card to pay for it online, so I asked her for hers, but gave her the money back in cash on the same day. The day after I was on the pizza company's website, and I learnt that when one orders online, they have to have the owner of the payment card present when the pizza is delivered. They then must show their own payment card as proof as the below term states (taken from their website): "The owner of the card used for payment must present this card on receiving the order. Card payments are secure". I didn't know I had to do this until it was too late, and the transaction was complete. When the pizza arrived, all the delivery driver said was "you ordered online" for which I replied, "yes".  I thanked him, and that was that.  He didn't ask me for proof of payment. So I paid for the pizza, and it came to the right address, and I confirmed that I ordered online when I was asked by the driver. The only thing I didn't know, was that one must show payment card upon delivery of the item. Our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) taught us to honour conditions, so that is why I am concerned here. In this situation, what is required of me? Was this transaction still valid?

Q: Recently, I bought something from a charity shop.  At the counter, the lady asked if I would like to be entered into a prize draw, for which the prize would be £4000. But to be entered for this one would have to give them £1. I agreed, as she told me that the £1 would go towards their charity. It was due to a nerve-racking morning that I was slow in realizing I had engaged in a kind of gambling, but the transaction had been completed and it was too late! What do I need to do now that this has been done? What should I do with the money if I win? (I doubt it, but just in case). Should I refuse to accept it and tell them I don't want it? Or if it is forced on me and I have to take it, should I give it away to an Islamic charity? With regards to the initial giving of £1 to enter the prize draw, I keep thinking that any salary I receive from work will remain unlawful until I take the same amount from my salary and donate this to (Islamic) charity to address any unevenness. Is this correct?

Q: A approached B to finance the purchase of a house which he did not see for 1.25 million rands and A agreed to buy the house from him at a higher price. He also borrowed 150 000 for transfer costs and renovations and this amount was included in the repayment of the house. The repayment price was worked out according to bank interest rates of 12% per annum with a total amount agreed upon. It was also agreed that should the payment be made before the 7 year agreed period then the total repayment will be less than the agreed amount, it will work out pro rata.

1.What is the shar'i status of this transaction.

2.What should be done to correct it.

3. Payment have already been received for 1 and half years, how should that be rectified.

Q: Offering or accepting bribe is indeed forbidden in Islam. However there are times when one is really helpless and cannot gain one's right or avoid being subject to to injustice except through bribery. This question is on behalf of my friend. "I am running an export oriented industry for which water is most essential. My water flow meter's visibility has become quite dull for which I approached the concerned authorities to allow permission to me for purchase of new meter as I fear that the current meter reading is also not clearly visible. I have been asked to send this meter for testing which I have done but the officials demand bribe for giving the permission to me to purchase new water flow meter which is my right. Delays will put me to great losses in my business. My question is that under the above circumstances if I fulfil their unjust demands would I be committing the major sin and face Allah's Wrath?"

Q: Am I allowed to keep the soap, etc that I have taken from the hotel room in which I was staying. If no and it's not possible for me to return the item. What do I do?

Q: I have formed a company of programmers and developers to develop mobile games and applications. There are three sources of revenue:

1. Sell the game.

2. Make it free and gain revenue from advertisements in the applications and games.

3. Keep it partly free and partly under sale (in app purchases).

I have ensured that my apps and games will not contain anything vulgar or shameless. However, they will contain music. Is this permissible?