Day Questions

Is it permitted by Islam to have a car on lease from a bank in a Muslim country? We pay in monthly installments for several years, and end up paying more than the original price of the car if we were to pay it in cash. At the end of this process, we are given ownership of the car. Is this considered to be interest and is it allowed in Islam?

The said deal is permissible. It does not involve interest.

Is it permissible to eat crab, lobster or prawn?

Amongst seafood, it is unlawful to consume anything but fish that have scales as well as shrimps and prawns. Other types of fish and shellfish are not lawful.

I am currently unemployed and looking for work. Is khums obligatory on me to pay? Who do I pay it to?

Khums is obligatory once a year. It is on what exceeds the expenses during the year. One should refer to an agent of the marji', and determine a fixed yearly time to pay khums after calculating it.

When fasting, is it permissible to use a miswak, a toothbrush, or a toothpick, or to put a pen in the mouth?

It is permissible to use the miswak or the like when fasting, but one should avoid swallowing the liquids from outside the mouth. For example, when one uses the miswak and it becomes wet from saliva, if it is taken out of the mouth and placed back in the mouth again, the wetness on the miswak will be deemed to be from outside the mouth, and swallowing such liquid will invalidate the fast.

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