Am I Allowed to Pick Up a Finance Plan for a Laptop?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Am I allowed to pick up a finance plan for a laptop where there is no interest for 18 months and I am certain I will finish it before the 18 months. 

Also, if someone lost an employee who left his watch a few months back and has not come back for it nor called and we do not have a way to reach him, may we keep it as ours?

Answer

I pray you are well. 

Non-interest Finance Plans

Yes, it would be permissible for you to enter into this finance plan – provided you are certain you will not end up paying in interest. This is similar to buying something with a credit card, the use of which has been deemed permissible by contemporary scholars, with the same condition: that one pays it off before any interest is due.

Delaying it until that that point would be sinful. The Messenger of Allah cursed those who give and receive interest. (Muslim)

Sometimes, finance companies offer a contract which amount to buying something immediately for a fixed amount, or buying it and paying for it in instalments. The amount here is usually more than what it is in the first contract, and the excess is called interest.

This is also permissible, and is not classed as interest in the Shari’a. It is merely a choice of one of two contracts, with the latter having a higher price with the opportunity of spreading the payments.

(Usmani, Fiqhi Maqalat)

Returning the Possessions of Others

“Indeed Allah commands you to return trusts to their owners, and when you judge between people that you do so with fairness. Truly, what an excellent thing Allah is exhorting you with. Undoubtedly, Allah has always been all-hearing, all-seeing.” (Qur’an, 4:58)

This is the guidance the Qur’an gives on this matter. Do your best to find the person. Getting in touch with people in our times is a lot easier that it was in the past. Get the watch back to its owner; you’ll be rewarded immensely.

If you cannot find him then you may use it, but if he comes back for it you must return it to him. (Maydani, al Lubab)

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.