Q&A Fatawa

Is one sinful while studying with a Interest (ribā)-based student loan? And will one be will considered as consuming ribā?

Q: Is one sinful while studying with a Interest (ribā)-based student loan? And will one be will considered as consuming ribā?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: Under the current student loan agreement the student does not consume ribā. Rather, the student agrees with the Student Loan Company, that he will pay […]

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Please could you clarify the Islamic permissibility for one to claim income support?

Q:Please could you clarify the Islamic permissibility for one to claim income support?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: The permissibility of being able to claim income support depends on whether the individual fits the eligibility criteria or not.  The eligibility criteria can be seen at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/income-support/eligibility If […]

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Please can Al-Qalam advise if they have carried out an onsite audit at the National Zakat Foundation London Shelter?

Q: Respected Scholars, Further to the Al-Qalam fatwa on the National Zakat Foundation (NZF) dated 25th February 2013, please can the Al-Qalam panel advise as to how the panel is assured that NZF does indeed adhere to the requirements of the fatwa? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: Al-Qalam has an agreement with […]

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Why does one need to pay Zakat on a pension plan if one does not get access till later?

 Q:  I have recently setup a SI pension plan account where I can manage the investment but the principal and the gains are not available to me till the age of 55. Is the investment value still zakatable in the years leading up to age 55?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: […]

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Is the debtor considered poor, and thus eligible to Zakāt funds?

Q: Is the debtor considered poor, and thus eligible to Zakāt funds?    الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: If the individual’s non-essential items do not cover the qualifying debts or do not reach the nisāb after covering qualifying debts then that person is considered poor and is eligible to receive zakāt.  It […]

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Is disbursing Zakāt funds for freeing of prisoners and covering their legal costs or family needs deemed permissible usage of these monies?

Q: Can we give Zakāt funds to free prisoners? Also can Zakāt funds be used to help finance their legal costs as there is no ‘ransom’ pay for most prisoners nowadays?  Can we give Zakāt funds to their families left behind alone with no breadwinner?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومنه الصدق والصواب    A:  The freeing of prisoners […]

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Can someone stuck in a ribā-based loan give voluntary charity, or do they need to pay off the ribā-based loan first?

 Q: Can someone stuck in a riba-based loan give voluntary charity, or do they need to pay off the riba-based loan first, given that is a duty, and thereafter resume with giving voluntary charitable donations? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: One who has taken a haram loan or a conventional mortgage should […]

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Is my earning halāl if I’m a hypnotherapist?

Q: I am a practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming and Hypnotherapy, which I practise for the purposes of helping people overcome fears and/or phobias that were installed as a programme within people’s life experiences. Is my earning halal?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه االصدق والصواب   A: Hypnosis as described in the question is […]

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What is the Islamic stance on joint tenancy ownership of a property

Q: Are the joint tenancy laws of England (whereby one tenant inherits the other’s share directly on death) valid in Islamic law? What happens if I share a property with my mother- on her passing does her share come to me automatically or do my siblings then gain a share islamically?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما […]

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Can rules of Ribā/usury relate to exchanging modern day goods such as mobile phones?

Q: Does ribā only relate to money and food items, or can modern day goods come under this too? Eg swapping a contemporary item -such as a mobile phone of a lower value for one of a higher value?     الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: Ribā in trade relates to the sale […]

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As a website owner, can I get commission from their profit?

Q: People use my site to auction their cars and I get a percentage cut from their profit. Is this permissible, given that I do not own their cars? And I get commission from their profit? A: Whilst you may charge a fee for the usage of your site the fee must be known.  You […]

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