Business and Dealings

Disposing of interest money in one's bank account

Q: I have a savings account in a bank in India. Every 3 to 6 months different amounts of interest money is credited to my account.

1. Can I give this money to a poor man without seeking thawab?

2. Can I give it to repair or maintain the toilets in a masjid?

3. Can I use it for maintaining or cleaning the road infront of my house?

4. Can I use the interest money to maintain the minimum balance in my account?

5. Can I use the money to pay the annual bill collected for using the debit cards?

Slowing down one's electricity meter due to electricity being expensive

Q: I am using government electricity. The government charges on electricity are very unfair since the area where I stay is a bit of a rich people area. They charge us more whereas electricity in the surroundings/other areas is much cheaper. So thats why I decided to slow down my prepaid meter. Is it right/permitted in Islam?

Selling a toy which contains music

Q: We have recently received stock of an Islamic toy which we were unaware had music... The toy has many beneficial learning pages such as duas, surahs, Arabic alphabets, etc. but there is a button which plays nasheeds with musical instruments in the background.

Will it be permissible to sell such a toy? If the toy is sold with a note on how to remove the music and if the customer purchases it and chooses not to remove the music wire, will the seller be sinful?

Selling fake designer glasses frames

Q: Please advise on the following:

A Muslim optometrist is having a problem with unqualified people smuggling fake designer frames into the country. These people send their customers to professional optometrists for eye tests and they ask for a script. Then they have their glasses made at a reduced cost by the "pirate" dealer.

Is it Islamically correct to have these types of crooks reported to the authorities? Some are Muslims and some are Non-Muslims.

Using money which was transferred into one's account by an unknown person

Q: I have a savings account in a bank. Someone transferred extra money which does not belong to me into my account. I enquired alot from the bank but they told me that it was from some government court. I called the bank more than 5 times and told them that I have no encounter with the court. They cannot do anything or provide any information. I waited for a long time for the owner to claim their money or contact me but unfortunately nobody claimed it. I'm in need of money for my marriage but my heart does not allow me to touch that amount. Please tell me if the amount is haraam or halaal if I spend it?