Ekonomi Syariah

Riba is any contractual increment in a lending relation. It is prohibited and considered one of the major sins and acts of disobedience to Allah. The parties to a Riba-based contract are declared war on by Almighty Allah and His Messenger, as stated in the Qur'an, Surat Al-Baqarah 2, verse 278-279: “O ye who believe! Observe your duty to Allah, and give up what remaineth (due to you) from usury, if ye are (in truth) believers. And if ye do not, then be warned of war (against you) from Allah and His messenger.And if ye repent, then ye have your principal (without interest). Wrong not, and ye shall not be wronged.”

The strict prohibition of interest in Islam is a result of its deep concern for the moral, social, and economic welfare of mankind. Muslim scholars have sound arguments explaining the wisdom of this prohibition, and recent studies have confirmed their opinions, with some additions and extensions of their arguments.

Question:

Respected scholars, As-salamu `alaykum. As a Canadian Muslim I pay taxes to the government, which takes up a major portion of my income. It is my understanding that a portion of the taxes thus collected by the government goes to the poor and those who work to collect them. This being the case, can I consider myself as being absolved from the duty of paying zakah? Jazakum Allahu khayran.

Answer (Sheikh Ahmad Kutty):

Question:

Respected scholars, as-salamu `alaykum.

Thank you for the great service you provide for the Ummah.

I need your advice on a matter that has been troubling me. My mom is a non-Muslim living in the US. A few years ago, she took out a life insurance on herself and she made my sisters and I the beneficiaries, but I found out only recently. Her intention really is that her funeral expenses and debts would be covered and if there is anything left over, her children would get something.

Is it haram for me to receive any of this money? I was thinking of asking her to take my name off, but I know that would hurt her so I've decided to let it be. But whenever the time comes, I can tell my sisters I can't take anything if that money is haram for me. Jazakum Allahu khayran.

Answer (Dr. Monzer Kahf):

Question :

Do you agree that insurance policies are permissible?

Answer :

Bismillah ar Rahman ar Rahim
Alhamdu Lillahi Rab al Alamin, wa al Salatu wa al Salamu ala Sayyidina Muhammad,
wa ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi Ajma'in

Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatu Allahi wa Barakatuh

Insurance contracts with commercial companies are controversial. Some scholars believe they are permissible with conditions on the ground that they are new contracts that are beneficial. Others argue that they are not permissible because they include a great deal of ambiguity regarding the responsibility of the parties being dependent on the unknown.

The conditions required according to the first group of Scholars are:

1) the contract must not be based on interest

Question (Arshad - India):

Assalamu Alaikum. I have a doubt regarding loans involving interest. My dad says such loans can be taken for essentials[like building our home. My cousin brother says that loans with affordable interest rates are halaal even if its not for the above said essentials. His sister says that islam had prohibited loans with interests because during olden times interest rates were exponentially high, so therefore there is nothing wrong in taking loans with small interest rates. Which is right?

Answer (DR. Monzer Kahf):

Question :

Respected scholars, As-salamu `alaykum. Is it lawful in the viewpoint of Islam to insure mosques against calamities such as fire or damage? This kind of insurance is optional. But suppose that a person slipped in the mosque and sued the people responsible for the mosque for compensation. They have to pay him compensation or, instead, the government will sell the mosque and give the price to him as compensation. This means that we are obliged to participate in this kind of insurance. Would you clarify the viewpoint of Islam on this issue? Jazakum Allahu khayran.


Answer (Dr. Salah As-Sawi) :

Wa`alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.