What is the ruling on a man called Al-Luhaidi who posts online alleging to be Mahdi? Is his allegation true or not? Please enlighten us, may Allah bless you.

This man is most probably a liar. He is claiming a status that he does not have. The true Mahdi is elaborately described in the books of the People of Sunnah. He is a righteous man who will come at the end of time to be the Imam of Muslims and will lead them in Prayer when `Isa (peace be upon him) descends and prays behind him.

If that man claims to be mahdi (Arabic of guided) in the sense that he guides people to the Truth, and if he is an evidently pious scholar who is knowledgeable of the Qur’an and Sunnah and following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then may Allah let him be a guide for others.

But if the intended meaning here is the narrations documented in the books of Sunnah (some of which are true but implicit, and some explicit but untrue — all indicating that there will come at the end of time a righteous man who will do great deeds, including leading Muslims in Prayer, upon the descending of `Isa), such signs are most likely not found in that man. Signs and features of Al-Mahdi are described in detail in the book At-Tadhkirah (The Reminder) by Al-Qurtubi and other books, many of which are inauthentic though, as already said. Therefore, such claim is mostly false. And Allah, the Almighty, knows best.

Riyad Bank presented to me some valuable stationery as gifts offered to clients. Is it permissible to use such gifts? And if not, what must I do? May Allah guide you to goodness.

First, to be on the safe side, the questioner’s account must be in a non-usurious bank.

Second, as a precaution, it is better to give away the stationery to someone who needs them or as a charity. Anyway, you can keep it, according to a well-founded opinion of some Muslim scholars (such as Ibn Mas`ud and others) that it is ok to accept gifts from a usurer.

Greetings. I need your opinion on a matter that worries me a lot. I work as a maintenance technician, and I want to buy a computer to help me in my work, but I do not have enough cash, as my salary is not enough and I am already repaying a debt. So, I am thinking of buying it by installments, but this means I will pay more than its current price. Is this extra sum a form of usury if both parties (the seller and I) are accepting this?

Another point: I want a standard definition for usury, to apply it to different cases I come across in my life. For example, I want to furnish my home to get married, but I cannot afford this in cash, and no furniture seller would accept to sell something by installments at the same original price. I am also thinking of taking a bank loan to start my own business, build a house for marriage, etc. Kindly clarify the ruling to me soon on the urgent question of buying a computer. May Allah reward you with good.

The question includes three points, as follows:

1. Purchasing a computer by installments that cover the price and an interest margin: This sale is permissible, and there is no impediment to it in Shari`ah, as judged by majority of Muslim scholars. Allah says, {But Allah permits commerce and forbids usury}. In deferred sale, there is no difference between delaying the whole payment and paying it in installments.

2. Definition of usury: Usury have several types, as `Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said. Scholars differed on whether it refers to “every invalid sale” or “any interest charged on loans (Riba An-Nasi’ah) or the extra value incurred when exchanging two things of the same kinds (Riba Al-Fadl). The most common type of usury these days is the interests charged on bank loans, by which the principal generates an extra with no goods or services transacted in between, which is impermissible in Shari`ah. This also answers your third question about your intention to borrow an interest-laden sum of money from a bank.

Kindly advise us about the Shar`i ruling on trading on currencies online via the Forex system. I am well trained in it and can use it to make money, but I fear being involved in something haram. Please answer me, may Allah confer Mercy and guidance upon you.

Trading on different foreign currencies, such as exchanging dollars for riyals, is permissible, provided that it is interest-free. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “But the types (of transacted goods) are different, then trade as you like as long as it is a hand-to-hand exchange”.

And Allah knows best.

Someone took a loan from a Western bank and then defaulted on repayments due to the annual interest. How can he repent? And what is the ruling on the property of non-Muslims?

Regarding the first question, even though he cannot pay back such debts, they remain payables to be fulfilled by him. He must ask Allah for forgiveness, regret his deed, and never do it again.

As for the second question, it is impermissible to transgress against property of non-Muslims by cheating, deception, stealth, or whatever. Your entry visa to a certain territory is like a “covenant of security”, which is incompatible with taking others’ property illegally. If you obtain something from a non-Muslim as a free gift or by purchase or some form of transaction, there is no impediment to this. But to appropriate others’ property or swindle them because they are non-Muslims is impermissible in Shari`ah.