Am I responsible if my wife engages in interest-based activities?

Q: Am I responsible if my wife engages in interest-based activities? I understand that riba is a very serious and major sin. I have been Muslim for four years and am looking to marry a sister insha’Allah. But I just found out recently that she is paying for an interest-only mortgage for her family’s home […]

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Is zakah necessary on child benefit payments?

Q: Is zakāh necessary on child benefit payments? I wanted to know who is considered the owner of the child benefit given by the government. Is it the child or the mother? I believe that if it is the mother then zakāh will be compulsory. الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: […]

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As a higher rate taxpayer – I can reclaim some of my Zakah back from HMRC- How do I treat this?

Q: As a higher rate taxpayer – I can reclaim some of my Zakah back from HMRC – How do I treat this? I am a higher rate taxpayer and would claim gift aid on my zakāh “donation”. If I give £100, the charity will be able to claim another £28 or so. Fine. My […]

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Is my income as a para-planner halal?

Q: Is my income as a para-planner ḥalāl, since I will be doing the research but not the advising on the different products (life insurance, mortgages, fixed interest bonds, mutual funds with non sharīʿah compliant companies etc)? I am currently training as a para-planner at a small independent financial advisory firm and I wish to […]

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Is it permitted to claim unemployment benefits if one is readily able to find work but prefers to stay at home instead?

Q: Is it permitted to claim unemployment benefits if one is readily able to find work but prefers to stay at home instead? الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: There are two main unemployment benefits: · Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) · Income Support (IS). JSA can only be rightfully claimed by […]

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If a Muslim is working as a cab driver, can they charge a customer who wants to go to a pub or nightclub?

Q: If a Muslim is working as a cab driver, can they charge a customer who wants to go to a pub or nightclub? الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: The basic principle in this type of issue is that according to Imām Abū Yūsuf and Imām Muḥammad if an individual […]

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Is a Muslim better off earning no interest on money in the bank, or taking interest with the intention of giving it to the poor?

Q: Is a Muslim better off earning no interest on money in the bank, or taking interest with the intention of giving it to the poor? الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: If it is possible to open an account with an Islamic bank or the Islamic window of a conventional […]

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Are Muslims allowed to take interest money from the bank and use it to pay their own taxes or insurance premiums?

Q:Are Muslims allowed to take interest money from the bank and use it to pay their own taxes or insurance premiums? الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: When needed, one should seek to open an account with an Islamic bank or the Islamic window of a conventional bank or a non-interest […]

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Are Muslims permitted to eat food bought from haram income (such as money falsely claimed in government benefits)?

Q: Are Muslims permitted to eat food bought from ḥarām income (such as money falsely claimed in government benefits)? الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: If one receives state benefits fraudulently the amount of excess benefit so received without entitlement must be returned to the state. If the excess benefit is […]

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Is it permissible to over claim benefits by under-declaring income?

Q: Is it permissible to over claim benefits by under-declaring income? الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: It is not permissible to over claim benefits by under-declaring one’s income. Any excess benefit fraudulently received in this manner is unlawful and must be returned to the state. However, if the excess benefit […]

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What elements of my pension do I need to pay zakah on?

Q: What elements of my pension do I need to pay zakāh on? If my pensions is a “zakātable” asset then what do I need to pay the zakāt on? The entire holding (i.e. fund value) or pay zakāt on the annual contribution? Is zakāt payable on my contribution alone or mine and my employer’s […]

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