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Salam,

I run a video game console repair shop.

Some customers ask me to modify their device so they can :

Installing Google Maps, YouTube, or WhatsApp
Making a full backup of the console
Transferring their data to another console

These modifications require bypassing the console’s protection measures (“jailbreak” or “modchip”) in order to have full control of the device.

I do not violate copyright. I do not provide any pirated games, and I do not help with illegal downloads.

1/ Is it halal to bypass a console’s protections in order to install legal applications such as YouTube or Google Maps?

2/ Am I responsible if the customer later uses my intervention to commit piracy at home, even though I do not help him with that?

Assalamu Alaykum,

In my business during onboarding, I claimed we used employees, but all work was subcontracted. Clients would not hire subcontracting companies, so they hired us under false understanding. There were also instances where progress was overstated, though services were ultimately delivered properly. The services were halal and satisfactory. I regret this.

I suspect most clients were affected, and income varies. I have no money other than what I may receive as profit from here.

Question: Can I stay until I find an alternative and receive whatever little profit I can for transition, then use this mixed income to start a halal business and later give the original doubtful portion in charity to purify the remaining wealth?

Jazakallahu Khairan.

Assalaamualaykum Mufti Saheb,

apolgies in advance for the long question.

I am writing to seek your expert guidance and a formal fatwa regarding my livelihood. I operate a Snap-on tools franchise in Alabama, and I am increasingly concerned that the nature of my business—specifically the heavy involvement with interest (riba) and predatory sales tactics—is affecting my spiritual and personal life.

Payment Structures in My Business

I currently offer two methods for customers to purchase tools:

• 1. The "Truck Account" (Interest-Free)

This is an informal "handshake" agreement between myself and the customer. I apply a significant markup to the tools (often 60% to 100%). For example, if a customer buys a tool for $500, they pay a fixed weekly amount (e.g., $50 or $100) until the balance is cleared. There is 0% interest charged on these payments it's between me and them. Is this high-markup, deferred-payment model considered permissible?

2. Snap-on Credit (Interest-Bearing Loans)

For expensive items like toolboxes and tool, we facilitate formal loans through Snap-on Credit. This involves:

• Formal contracts spanning 1 to 5 years.

• Interest rates ranging from 9.9% to 29.9% APR.

• A business model that encourages keeping customers in perpetual debt to ensure they remain "on the truck."

Ethical and Spiritual Concerns

I feel a deep sense of guilt regarding the following:

1. Exploitation: The corporate strategy encourages us to keep customers in a cycle of debt so they remain dependent on the "tool truck" indefinitely.

2. Dishonesty: Due to high overhead costs, the finance on my own truck and a interst bearing loan I took out from snap on, I find myself exaggerating and lying to customers just to close a sale.

3. Facilitating Riba: I feel more like a bank agent than a tool salesman. I am worried that my role in processing these interest-bearing loans makes my income haram and my actions sinful.

background on how snap on finance:

Snap-on Credit LLC is a dedicated financial institution. It manages over $2.5 billion in receivables (money owed by customers).They use me (the franchisee) as the "loan officer." I do the paperwork, I assess the customer's character, and collect the "weekly installments"—but the high-interest profit goes back to the corporate entity.

they want to "keep customers in debt" is actually a core part of the business model. In the industry, this is often called "building the RA" (Revolving Account).

• Retention through Debt: If a customer owes you $2,000, they feel obligated to step onto your truck every week to pay. As long as they are on the truck, you have a chance to sell them more.

• The Trap: If they pay off their debt, they might stop coming onto the truck. This is why the corporate pressure is so high to "reload" the customer with a new purchase as soon as they have "room" on their credit line.

Personal Reflection and Seeking Hidayah

Lately, despite making significant money through the franchise, my life has taken a difficult turn since I started this business. I am facing worsening health issues and a broken relationship with my wife and children, I am constantly fighting and arguing. I fear these are the consequences of dealing in interest, dishonesty and missing salah.

The money I have earned so far is this halal or should I give this in charity and start again. I am desperate mufti sahib to find peace again. I know in my heart I am doing wrong, but I am fooling myself. I just need a wake up call.

I humbly request your guidance on the following:

• What are the specific warnings in the Quran and Hadith regarding those who sell or facilitate interest?

• Is the high-markup "Truck Account" model permissible if it remains 0% interest?

• If my business cannot survive without the interest-bearing loans, is it mandatory for me to leave this profession?


I am seeking hidayah and a way to earn a pure (tayyib) living . I look forward to your advice. I have been as transparent as I can be.

Assalah mu Alaykum
I gave my word to my tenant who was staying in house for 20 years 3 months before I gave him a price 300k
When the time came to sell i went back on my word and sold the house to another person for 325k as he was offered me more
So my tenant got really angry with this because I went against my word
I know I am wrong
What is shariah ruling on this

The now ex tenant says that I have to give him back 24 months of rental as he stayed in there for 2 months
Though he still has outstanding balance of unpaid 6 months rent
Only then maybe will forgive me
He has given me 2 weeks to do if not then he is threatening me by saying he will report me to
HMRC for not paying or declaring the rent payments to them
He has recording where I have said I promise to sell the house to him so he is going to make viral to whole world to show my character to people of how I break promises
Is this allowed
What is the ruling on this to
Please advise
Jazakalla u khair
Mehboob

"I am currently living in a non-Muslim country and have financed my home through an Islamic bank using an Ijarah (lease-to-own) model. In the event of a disaster that destroys the property, I am concerned about the financial hardship of losing my home while still being liable for the debt. Is it permissible to take out a conventional home insurance policy to mitigate this risk and protect against total financial loss?"

Hi,Assalamu Alaikum.Iam a muslim. I want to know about forex trading. If i do forex trade in islamic account(swap free) and also if i dont take any leverage means 1:1 (no leverage) and also if i set an expert advisor (Ea) for automatic trading strategy.

Will it be halal? Please ans and if not any Corrections?

For reference my ea is not martingale, it open one position at a time based on its coding/strategy.

Salaams,

I have recently started trading on the stock market and dont really know what I am doing. I buy and sell stocks based on feeling and hope which to me sounds like gambling/uncertainty. I buy and sell shares numerous times each day.

So, is it permissible if I carry on trading without knowing what im doing?

All my flatmates are muslim. one of them has found a subtenant, who is a Muslim friend of mine, who he will allow to stay in his room in August in exchange for paying his rent for that month. Subletting is prohibited by the contract.

I also am away in August. I want to find a replacement for my friend (who is my flatmate's subtenant) by finding a replacement subtenant. I want to then let my friend stay in my room, which is called "lodging" and has been allowed by my landlord. My friend, will then stay in my room and pay on my behalf if he wants to or not. This will also relieve my Muslim friend who will not have to pay all of august.

Is getting a replacement sub-tenant for my flatmate assisting in sin, even though he has one already?

Assalamu alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh.

I want to create an online marketplace for courses (learning), which I am hosting, where buyers and sellers meet, where I receive commission from all courses / learning that is sold on this marketplace.

I will try to implement an approval process, where I have to approve a course before it is submitted.

What if someone posts a learning course on something like earning money through haraam methods?

Am I responsible for the sin of this if people buy from this and learn from this?
Is there sin on me?

It would be overwhelming for me to be able to catch and deny all submissions that have haraam elements like this, simply because there is not enough time to go through each course.

Should I develop this marketplace or just leave it alone?

JazakumAllaahu khayran.

As-salāmu ʿalaykum,

I have a question I’d like to ask you, as I sincerely hope to specialize in Islamic finance in the future and eventually become a chartered accountant.

I’d really appreciate your opinion on the following situation:

Let’s imagine a client working in the construction or restaurant industry, for example, decides to change accountants. As a result, we take over their file, meaning we receive all their previous accounting records (cash inflows and outflows). However, it’s possible that this client took out a conventional (interest-based) loan in the past to finance their business activities.

My question is: despite this loan, are we still allowed to become this client’s accountant?

This would involve, on our end, recording in the client’s books every month the interest payments made to the bank, as well as the repayment of the loan principal.

We, of course, did not advise the client to take out this loan, nor do we work in collaboration with the bank.

However, our job is to provide a true and fair view of the client’s financial situation, by recording everything they receive (income) and everything they pay (expenses, including interest expenses). Would simply recording these interest charges in their accounts be considered haram in and of itself?

BarakAllahu feek,

Manel

Salem Alikoum.
I hope my message finds you well.

I would like to inquire whether whole life insurance is Haram or not. I tried to summerize the contract as below. Jazakum Allah keira.

Whole life insurance is a type of permanent life insurance that covers you for your entire life, as long as you keep paying the premiums. It also builds cash value over time, which you can borrow against or withdraw while you're still alive.

Key features:

1. Lifelong coverage — it pays a death benefit to your beneficiaries no matter when you die (as long as premiums are paid).


2. Fixed premiums — the amount you pay monthly or annually usually stays the same for life.


3. Cash value accumulation — part of your premium goes into a savings-like cash value account that grows over time, often at a guaranteed rate. This one I already have declined due to interest. But I have asked to keep the cash value as is similar to saving bank account.


4. You can borrow against it — you can take out loans from the cash value while you’re alive, though it reduces the death benefit if not repaid.


5. More expensive than term life insurance — because it provides lifetime coverage and a cash value component.

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.

I am reaching out because I’ve recently noticed an increasing trend that deeply concerns me. It seems that some businesses are exploiting Islam for commercial purposes, using religious symbols and terminology as mere marketing tools to attract Muslim consumers. For example, I’ve seen products like candies being excessively advertised as “halal” in a way that feels more like a sales gimmick than a genuine adherence to Islamic principles. I even came across a watch with Arabic numerals being labeled as a “Muslim watch” — a description that feels unnecessary and exploitative.

As a Muslim, I find this troubling. It feels as though the sacredness of our faith is being reduced to a marketing strategy. I would greatly appreciate your guidance on this matter. Are there any perspectives from the Hanafi school regarding the misuse of religion for personal or commercial gain? I believe that such practices not only mislead consumers but also undermine the integrity of our faith.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I look forward to your response. BarakAllahu Feek.

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Can I use an ebook which I find on مكتبة النور، مكتبة الشاملة, internet archive?
I sometimes find in the books that in it is written that it's not allowed to reproduce the book in antiform or transform it and different platforms etc but sometimes I find books in which there is no word about this kind of things but it's only really written that all rights are reserved so can I use this kind of book?
For example some days ago I found the book of imam Sharawi, the book of Tawba but I am confused whether to use it or not and it's written that all rights are reserved?

Assalam Alaikum, respected Shaykh.




I wanted to know regarding permissibility of Leasing a house.

I would like to explain in detail just in case it's needed.




Let's say Person A is the owner of the house and Person B is the tenant.

So now, the Person B pays a Lumpsum amount of €40,000 to Person A,

And as per the agreement, Person B gets to occupy the house for certain period of time, let's say 5 years.

During these 5years, Person B doesn't have to pay any rent to Person A

At end of 5years Person A has to return the initial amount of €40,000 so that Person B vacates the house.




Kindly clarify if this type of Agreement is permissible.




Thanking You

Assalamu 'Alaikum! I am a medical student from Pakistan. I wanted to ask a question regarding buying pirates resources. This is my story: I am preparing to sit for the USMLE exams (exams required for starting residency in the US). For this, there are certain books and other resources (video lectures, etc.) that are important. One of these resources is the Kaplan Lecture notes and lectures. Now, the thing is that I have tried my level-best of trying to avoid buying pirates resources, but I couldn't find the original Kaplan notes anywhere I searched in Pakistan. They are available online, but have to be delivered from America and are priced at a whopping 1600 dollars. Now, this price is considered QUITE A LOT especially here in Pakistan (and that also only for a single resource!) Most of the people here don't worry about these things and buy the pirated books which are available for as low as 2 dollars a book. And the pirated video lectures are available for free online. Now, the thing is that the reason I was able to comfortably buy the other original international resources was that their prices had been adapted by the respective companies to Pakistan and were available from local bookshops. But the resource I am worried about (Kaplan) is not available here locally (talking about the original Kaplan notes) and therefore the prices of the original notes are extremely high as they have not been adapted to Pakistan.
What should I do in this case? Is it maybe permissible to buy the pirated resource for now, and then a few years down the line when I become a doctor inshaAllah, I buy the original resource at its original price?

I shall be grateful if you could answer this, because otherwise I would not be able to study with concentration knowing that I have been sinful.
JazakAllah!

As-salamu alaykum, I have a couple of questions regarding marketing.

First, we are considering including the phrase 'Father's Day gifts' in the title of our product to attract more customers and increase sales. However, we are unsure if this is permissible in Islam, given that Father's Day is not an Islamic holiday. Is it permissible to use this keyword for the purpose of generating traffic and sales?

Second, is it permissible for non-muslims to buy my product and make videos with music on their channels and when they make a sale for my product, they automatically get a small commission.

JazakAllah Khair for your guidance.

I live and work in Dubai, UAE.
In the UAE, there is a mandatory by law to have Loss-of-Job Insurance, known as ILOE. This insurance pays employee 60% of his salary if an employee is terminated (not resigned himself).

In November 2024, I lost my job because my company was moving to another country and closing its Dubai office. Just like every employee in UAE have ILOE insurance I also have it but its not mandatory to do a claim. However, I chose to submit a claim after my termination.
To process the claim, I incurred expenses of approximately AED 400 for arranging and submitting the required documents. Please note that the insurance provider, Dubai Insurance Company P.J.S.C., is not Shariah-compliant.

I have now received three installments from the insurance payout, amounting to AED 4,889 each, totaling AED 14,667.

I have the following questions regarding the permissibility and usage of this amount in accordance with Islamic Shariah principles:

1) Is this amount halal? Please note that the insurance provider, Dubai Insurance Company P.J.S.C., is a local insurance company but not Shariah-compliant.

2) Can I use this amount to pay my father’s loans? My father is elderly (over 60 years old, MashaAllah) and is no longer working. I cannot pay his loans from my income becasue his loan amount is huge.

3) Can I use this amount to purchase mandatory insurances in Dubai? For example, can I use it to pay for medical and car insurance, as these are mandatory in Dubai?


I kindly request your guidance to address these queries. I will await your reply to help me resolve this matter.

JAZAKALLAH KHER.

I operate a business selling products. Is it permissible for me to offer an early bird discount for a specific length of time in order to generate sales.

E.g The cost of an item is $50, but if they purchase within the first 7 days of listing the product it will be $40 ($10 off). The price will then return to the original specified price.

Would this be a permissible transaction for both products and services rendered?

firstly, Who does profit belong to if someone invests in a business with stolen capital, the owner of the money (opinion 1) or the thief (opinion 2) ? also has Mufti Taqi usmani said his opinion on this?

Secondly, let’s say someone followed opinion 1 and used minimal stolen money to pay for their house . They are aware that using something stolen in a business may require a person to return the profits back to the owner of the money (depending on what opinion someone follows) .now what about a person whose bank account is using that home address, their government ID, their passport, their driving license, their phone numbers, their SIM contracts, insurances etc . How can we start a business or a job when there will always be a link to that house that was used to funded by minimal stolen money. It would be costly and difficult and time consuming to put all of this on another address espcially when other peoples houses have some stolen money contamination in them and they may not even let the thief use their address for their own benefit. Does this mean we can’t ever do business in this situation . This would also make it extremely difficult to get a job because they would need our bank accounts Id, address, contact details etc . Lastly , The phones and cars itself, aren’t funded with haram money but rather the home address that was used to file as an address for the insurance company has some stolen money in it . In extreme need, what could someone do?

Thirdly,I used to follow a mufti who I trusted that said that profit from a business that began with stolen capital belonged to the thief and not the owner of the capital (but the capital would need to be returned to the owner regardless) but now I follow someone else who I trust more that says the profit belongs to the owner . What do you think The person should do with the profits he made whilst following the first mufti’s opinion? What if giving away the money it causes him to have nothing and causes hardship in making money in the future ?

Finally, if someone followed opinion 1 (in the first question above) and they were selling to certain shops as part of their business and they wear stolen clothes even though there isn’t a specific type of clothes you have to wear in the business, would the income be haram ? What about driving to that place with a car bought with stolen money because it isn’t also needed in the business but they chose to use it anyway

if someone invests in a business with stolen capital, does the profit need to be returned to the owner along with the capital or just the capital ?

if someone follows the opinion that profits from a business that's invested with stolen capital belong to the owner of the capital and not the thief and they followed that opinion from a scholar they trust but overtime they followed another scholar they was more inclined to and the scholar followed the opinion

if person 1 was to partner up with person 2 in business on the condition that person 2 brings the capital for the business, if his money is completely haram as in hes earned it by selling haram services but a tiny proportion of his money but not majority is earned thorough insurance fraud, even if it’s haram to use that capital in a partnership as it’s not halal, would the capital come out of the stolen savings or haram savings (the person is aware entering this type of partnership is haram and they need to repent)