Business and Dealings

E-tolls

Q: I would like to know if it would be Jaiz-correct to use interest-Riba money to pay for eTolls in Guateng.

The points to consider are the following :

1) There are no new roads that were built. These were all existing roads that have been improved by SANRAL.

2) The roads improvement were also done as part of the infrastructure improvement deal for the 2010 world-cup.

3) The alternative routes are not in a good condition and in most cases are not even suitable to be used as alternative routes to and fro from travel destinations.

4) The government already imposes high taxes and specific road taxes via the road levy that are paid via the price of fuel.

5) The consumer-citizen was not correctly consulted by the state to impose such fees on roads (via vote or poll) and the legislation was pushed through very aggressively by the ruling party and those that benefit financially from the eToll income.

6) The majority of the income from eToll leaves the country and is paid to a company in Europe.

7) The improvement of the roads has benefited movement of traffic in some areas, and eased congestion at some peak times.

8) The roads are more safe to drive on and are better lit up in certain areas at night.

As this is a current hot debate in our area, your URGENT attention and response thereof would be most highly appreciated.

Working for a company that offers business development services

Q: I work in an organisation named JKEDI which is an entrepreneurship development institute and its mission is to make youth self employed so that they attain financial independence as its very difficult to get a government job here and the unemployment rate is alarming. JKEDI trains entrepreneurs, offers business development services and provides them finance for starting their business by linking them to banks where they are charged interest and give loans directly also. I am working there as a trainer. I want to know whether my job is halaal or haraam. And in  case its haram, can I continue working here till I get another job or I should quit?

Doing an accounting job

Q: Is it permissible in Islam to have an accounting job? Or a financial analyst? Every company nowadays deals with interest. So avoiding it
completely will be very difficult. Please advice in which situations it will be permissible and impermissible? 

Mandatory insurance

Q: I have to get mandatory insurance for medicine from my work place. Due to this I have the minimum amount. I have used it once it saved me 100$ on medicine. Allhumdulilah I have not needed it again. My mom is a Diabetic, she pays a lot of money close to 150$ For her pills. I will save her close to 80% if I put her on my mandatory health insurance at work. I wanted to know if it's allowed. I probably will have to pay a bit more every month by 1 to 2 dollars not worried about that. Just wanted to know if it's permissible?