Q&A Fatawa

Please can the Al-Qalam Shari’ah Panel advise as to whether they consider the National Zakat Foundation as a suitable organisation to give Zakat money to?

Q: Please can the Al Qalam Shari’ah Panel advise as to whether they consider the National Zakat Foundation as a suitable organisation to give Zakat money to? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: We have spent some time looking into how National Zakat Foundation operate. Please click here for our fatwa on this. […]

Read more...

Is it allowed to take out mandatory travel insurance in order to be able to volunteer in a charity abroad?

Q: I have signed up to volunteer for a charity working abroad but have found out that I will be required to take out Travel Insurance. Is it permissible for me to get travel insurance cover or should I opt for volunteering somewhere else where this will not be a requirement?     الجواب حامدا […]

Read more...

Would insurance be permissible for martial arts’ students to take out health and safety purposes – as this is the requirement of the law of the land?

Q: Would it be Islamically permissible for martial arts’ students to take out insurance cover for health and safety purposes – as this is the requirement of the law of the land? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: Conventional insurance contravenes the Sharī‘ah prohibition on ribā, gharar, and maysir.  Therefore, one should only […]

Read more...

How much is a husband obliged to give for the maintenance of his wife, given that this is his responsibility in Islam?

Q: How much is a husband  obliged to give for the maintenance of his wife, given that this is his responsibility in Islam?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: The amount of maintenance payable depends on the status of both husband and wife and the norms in which they live and what is generally […]

Read more...

I support my parents financially by putting money in to their account, however I am not sure if this money goes towards something which is permissible or impermissible. Is this permissible?

Q: I support my parents financially by putting money in to their account, however I am not sure if this money goes towards something which is permissible or impermissible. Is this permissible?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: If the support you provide your parents is used exclusively to perpetuate haram then this is […]

Read more...

Is is permissible to give Zakah to someone in the form of food vouchers instead of cash?

Q: Is is permissible to give Zakah to someone in the form of food vouchers instead of cash?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومنه الصدق والصواب A: It is permissible to give food vouchers instead of cash.  However, the Zakah will only be discharged once the recipient receives the food.  A food voucher is an assignment of debt […]

Read more...

Is is permissible to give Zakāt to pay off ones debts by giving the Zakāt to the creditor directly with the permission of the Zakah recipient?

Q: Is is permissible to give Zakah to pay off ones debts by giving the Zakah to the creditor directly with the permission of the Zakah recipient?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومنه الصدق والصواب A: It is sufficient for the discharge of Zakah to give the Zakah directly to the creditor of an eligible recipient if it […]

Read more...

How should ownership of a house be divided if both spouses contribute towards regular payments and also the initial deposit?

Q: How should ownership of a house be divided if both spouses contribute towards regular payments and also the initial deposit?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: The ownership of your brother’s house depends on the understanding at the time of purchase between your brother and his wife.  If the understanding was that the […]

Read more...

What is the ruling on life insurance?

Q: What is the ruling on life insurance? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: According to the overwhelming majority of Muslim scholars conventional insurance including conventional life insurance, is not permitted. Whilst a minority of scholars have tried to reason for the permissibility of conventional insurance such reasoning has generally been rejected hence […]

Read more...

Is comprehensive car insurance permitted or should third party insurance only be taken?

Q: Is comprehensive car insurance permitted or should third party insurance only be taken? الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: In the case that only conventional insurance is available, if the requirements of the law are met by third party only insurance and this incurs less cost in payable premiums than […]

Read more...

Can I take medical insurance as part of my salary package?

Q: Can I take medical insurance as part of my salary package? If an employer gives you a choice between taking some extra cash other than salary or get medical benefits, and one knows that medical benefits / insurance is more beneficial to him in terms of his expenses, and therefore he chooses to get […]

Read more...

Is interest permissible if below the inflation rate?

Q: Is interest permissible if below the inflation rate?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: The permissibility of interest at or below the rate of inflation is not supported by Al-Qalam and the majority of scholars.  Please see the following link: http://www.1stethical.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/StudentLoans.pdf Rather, any loan that attracts a conditional increment is not permitted. This […]

Read more...