Business and Dealings

Q: I work in a shop. Sometimes, customers forget their change and sometimes also forget their purchased items. What should be done with their change and items?

Q: A Muslim bakery sold bread on credit fifty years ago valued at Kenyan Shillings 6500/-, and the price of loaf was KShs 0.75 (75 cents). At that time the debtor had failed to pay. Now his kin want to settle the debt when the price of a loaf is KShs. 50/- and is ready to pay extra over the 6500/- owed. Can the Bakery demand to be paid according to the current price of a loaf of bread? Or can they accept the initial debt of KShs. 6500/- plus the extra the debtor is willing to pay seeing the difference of the cost of loaf today and fifty years ago? As the actual currency is gold, can the debt be evaluated according to the price of gold fifty years ago and now, i.e., the amount of gold that could have been bought of KShs 6500/- fifty years ago and the value of the same weight of gold at the current local market be the repayable debt? The owner of the bakery (now run by his children) died many years ago. Please advise.

Q: At our store we stock a large variety of products including shoe makers products. Recently we have been getting a customer coming regularly to buy shoe glue only. The staff have brought it to our attention that he is buying it to sniff. After this I have observed the following:

1. He does not buy any other shoe makers products.
2. He buys more glue on a single trip then any other shoemaker I remember serving.
3. He never has any shoes or shoe makers items in his hand when he comes to the store whereas this is usually noticed  on most shoemakers.

So it is clear that he is sniffing the glue and not using it for shoes. Is it permissible to continue serving him knowing that he is using the glue for sniffing?

NB: Our store does NOT run on a self help system so he has to ask for the glue to be given to him which makes it very easy for us to stop supplying him if necessary.

Q: A person has been attending a madressa. At the madressa there is a tuck shop which allows the students to take things on credit. As a student many things were bought on credit and paid later. A few years later the student has doubts in their mind as to whether they have paid their accounts accordingly. What can the person do besides asking Allah for forgiveness?

Q: I am a security officer in a company. My company throws the items in a skip one month before the expiry date. Can I take some items from the skip without the permission of my supervisor?

Q: I have a job interview working for a bank in the USA. I was told that it is haraam to work for an American or foreign bank because they deal with interest rates (RIBA). However when I work there I will be at the cashier, depositing the clients money in their account, not directly with riba. Please advice if this is haraam or halaal?

Q: Who is the owner of the children's clothes? Can a parent give his child's used clothes to others? What is the Islamic ruling in this regard?

Q: My bank name is Dubai Islamic Bank and they give advance salary and deduct 150 AED as services charges. They say it's not interest. Is it sood or not? I needed money and I want to confirm if it is sood. I didn't take it.

Q: You know banks pay you interest if you have account with them and if use credit card you also pay interest to a bank. So if you receive and give interest(riba) would you be in hellfire forever? Below words from Quran says forever. Trade is like usury, but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for Allah (to judge); but those who repeat (the offence) are companions of the Fire: they will abide therein (for ever). [2:275]

I thought only thing will put you in hellfire forever is shirk.

Q: I am working as an Artist. Is drawing and painting landscapes allowed? Secondly is drawing of Animals & Birds permissible? Thirdly is decoration home/Office with sculptures permissible?