Q: Few years back when I was going home from office at night I found Rs.100 on the road. I was not so much aware of the Islamic path at that time and I spent the money on myself. But now I feel its a big sin and its hurting me and making me feel guilty. Please guide me what should I do now. May Almighty Allah bless us.
Q: I have a couple of debts I have to pay back. One is a non-interest loan via a friend. One is a previous student loan where the interest is extremely small. I took this loan out some years back when I didn’t know anything about riba. If I can get a loan (non-interest) from somewhere, is it permissible for me to invest this loan in something halaal in order to make money for myself so that I can pay off my debts first, before I get a job? For example, I am able to get a loan and invest in some business which would eventually provide some return. Assuming I still don’t have a job. Or, if I can get myself a job, although I have these debts, would I be able to save up and invest first before paying the debts off? Or can I save up and invest, while taking some of my savings and putting that towards the debts at the same time? What is the best course to follow and what out of the above us permissible? What way round is allowed?
Q: I am trying to find out for a friend the permissibility of working for a company that is mainly involved with making/creating arms and selling them to companies globally including countries that use them to kill Muslims. The companies main areas of business are Defence (80%) and remainder Space/Travel. He would be working in the IT division and would have no direct involvement with the defence areas of business. He has asked a few well known scholars who said it would be deemed permissible but wasn't able to get any elaboration/clarification as to how it was exactly permissible. The company is also involved in talks with creating an office in Tel Aviv.
Q: I heard a hadith that says the dua of a person is not accepted if the source of money for his food, for his drink and for his clothes is haram even if he says "Ya Rabi" (my lord). Does this haram money include interest-based loans? I know that taking out interst-based loans is haram. But once you have the money, is that money itself haram to use? I use my student loan money to pay for my university tuition and fees. Any money that's leftover from my loan is used to pay for my rent and my food. I try to make tawbah (repentance) for getting involved in this sin, but is my repentance accepted? Or is my salah and dua invalid? Is it haram to fill my gas tank with this money or drive anywhere or buy my groceries? I try to eat home-cooked dinners prepared by my mom (from my dad's halal income - which isn't enough unfortunately to pay for my loan).
Q: Is it permissible for a pharmacy to sell the following products:
1. Items containing gelatin from animals that were not slaughtered according to Shari’ah?
2. Items containing alcohol which have a non-alcoholic equivalent.
3. Also, will the money earned from such sales be haraam?
Q: Are we allowed to receive gifts or invitations of such a person who is an accountant of a company which exports and imports things which includes breweries. He is my uncle and if we would refuse there's a danger of breaking of relations.
Q: Is it permissible for Muslims to use the health benefits offered by the employer via an insurance company? The employees fill the forms of the insurance company and send them to the health department. Nothing extra (regarding health insurance) is deducted from my salary. My salary, as per contract, is fully provided to me. Is it permissible for me to use these health insurance benefits?
Q: I saw an add on Internet for sale of land. I wanted to buy that land but I didn't have enough money. So I contacted the bank and fixed the loan. As it was property of a private owner, so bank bought the property, paid amount to the seller and gave me loan. Land price was 100,000. I have 5 years loan period, amount of payment is fixed to 150,000 only if I pay within 5 years, above the principal amount 50,000 is interest (in bank's terms, because it is a conventional bank) but I considered it as I'm buying the property at a high price and amount of money is fixed at the beginning. I will pay this amount within that period if I don't bank will charge interest. Is this contract halaal?
Now after few months have past and i'm paying off that loan, I realised that I have made a mistake because first, I will not be able to pay off this loan within this period and secondly I think its not halaal. I have put this land for sale. I have in my mind that I'll do lots of istigfar and still begging Allah to forgive me. I have decided i'll never deal with conventional banks ever. Is it all right if i sell the property now? Where bank will not share in any loss or profit, rather it has some fixed fees it will charge for breaking the contract. Although, that land is not going to be sold in profit, may be equal to the same actual price of 100,000 or may be less than that. Whereas I have paid more than that amount in terms of lawers fee, council charges, bank fee and interest to bank (as I considered extra payment as high price). Was that contract halaal? Can I sell that property now? I had dream on two different nights that a storm in the ocean is approaching us. What does it mean? Is it related to the whole story?
Q: I work as a middleman, taking orders for medical equipment, surgical instruments, etc. I make money through charging a commission on the orders. Is this permissible?
Q: I worked for a certain company for 9 months. My boss once came to me, started swearing me and chased me from the shop. I opened a case against him and we went to court. When he chased me away, he owed me wages for 3 days. Yesterday was my CCMA case and the court ruled that he now has to pay me R5500. Is it permissible for me to accept this money?