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Is It Permissible to Open a Cyber Lounge?

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Shaykh Abdurrahim Reasat answers the question if it is permissible for Muslims to open a cyber lounge as a business.

 

Question:

Peace upon all of you with God’s mercy and blessings.

I am trying to make better decisions in life and improve myself. I recently rented a store with a friend and been thinking about making it a cyber lounge located in California, where people can come and play videos games or surf the internet, repair computers, have some drinks(not alcohol)/snacks and socialize. I understand video gaming can be addicting and cause disconnect from reality if played for long hours, at the same time I think it’s fine to have some entertainment for 2-3 hours a day so video games wouldn’t be harming in that manner and I might be wrong. Another thing is that video games nowadays are turning into a sport, I don’t know what to make of that, those players game as if it’s a regular job, I used to be one of them, nowadays I play a few hours a week for entertainment or don’t play at all.

From my own experience, I definitely see the negatives from gaming for long hours in my self and with others and will not argue with it, at the same time I can see some positives from it. For example, when I used to go to cyber lounges as a kid, I made a lot of friends, we socialized, we started doing outside activities and sports together and plan recreational trips, we prayed together (not extensively but at least we tried), some video games make the brain think like chess players or even better especially strategy games, people play chess and no one says it’s “BAD” and its still considered a game, some video games are similar and could require even more strategic planning than chess because there are a lot more options to think about than chess has so why is chess fine if someone plays it for long hours and no one talks about it?

I want the work that I do in this life to be beneficial for people, the after life, and of course acceptable by God.

I appreciate any help you can provide on this subject and your time for reading my question.

 

Answer:

Wa ‘alatkum as-salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh

I pray you are well.

Assisting in Sin

It is permissible for you to pursue this project. Essentially you will be charging people for using the facilities you provide. what they do is their choice – so you would not be assisting in sin. (Salah Abu all Hajj, al Bayan). If, however, you do see someone accessing inappropriate content, or playing a game with such content you should address it.

Helping Others Do Good

Having said that, it would be a tremendous act of service to your community if you made the place a haven from the societal problems the youth – especially young men – are faced with. Make the establishment a place where they can come to relax, avoid bad company and activities, and socialise in general.

Don’t allow any drugs, smoking, or other impermissible activities to take place there. Provide an ample prayer area, wudu facilities, and activities for the youth to engage in. Many of the youth simply don’t have anywhere to go to hang out with their friends – and if their is such a place it usually has many bad influences there.

You could also co-ordinate with local scholars and have some open Q&A sessions, or something else which engages people. Doing so would be a great help to your community, and an act of charity for yourself.

Other Avenues Of Helping People

Look for other means to help people, and see if you can incorporate that into the project. How about using part of the building to run MMA or Archery classes? If need be you could try and get the community to subsidise what you do. The need is there, and if you ask Allah and make a sincere intention to please Him and serve the umma of the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, you’ll see the fruits.

May Allah facilitate all matters which please Him for you.

Abdul-Rahim

 

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.

 

What Is the Balance Between Justice and Forgiveness in Business?

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Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question: Asslamu Alaykum

I work at a for-profit organization. Suppliers and business partners sometimes do not meet their commitment (for example do not deliver on agreed timelines), even when the agreement is clearly written down and agreed upon. Islam calls for forgiveness and extols the virtues of forgiveness. But, Islam also calls for justice and this makes the situation tricky. What is the best thing to do in this situation?

Answer: Wa ‘alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh

Thank you for your question.

Mutual agreement and consent

The basis for all business transactions in Islam is that both sides are mutually consenting and pleased with the contract. This is taken directly from the verse of sura al-Nisāʾ, ‘Believers, do not consume your wealth among yourselves wrongfully, unless it be [gained] through trade based on mutual consent.’ (4,29). The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘Clearly trade is only based on mutual agreement and consent’ (Ibn Majah).

Based on these and other sources the jurists have laid down principles which entail that the rights of both parties are fulfilled in any financial transaction. If one party is given an unfair advantage in a scenario then the other party has a right to continue with the transaction of cancel it. If there is an element of risk, uncertainty, or if certain details, if left unclear, would lead to a dispute then these transactions are not endorsed by the Shariʿa, and both parties must cancel the sale (Marginānī, al-Hidāya).

In light of the above, both parties should look at their agreements and if either side has fallen short in delivering what the contracts entailed then they may either agree on a form of compensation for any deficiency in service, or overlook the deficiencies in favour of a healthy working relationship.

Justice and Forgiveness

A believer’s attitude is that he always strives to be just and fair in his dealings with other people, no matter what the scenario. The reason behind this is that Allah Most High loves those who are fair and just (al-Mumtaḥina,8). However, the believer is always willing to overlook the faults and and missteps of others, but this is usually reserved for his personal life. At work, one should act in a professional manner and not assume one has the liberty to waive financial rights without approval from the owners of the company.

Moving forward

For future contracts, all parties should clarify everything before that contract is finalised; they should also clarify what would be done if either party falls short on any aspect of the agreement. If any grievances do occur is it wise to resort to an independent third party for a settlement, and then accept their decision once it has been made.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

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 to study and sit at the feet of some of the most erudite scholars of our time.

Over the following eighteen months he studied a traditional curriculum, studying with scholars such as Shaykh Adnan Darwish, Shaykh Abdurrahman Arjan, Shaykh Hussain Darwish and Shaykh Muhammad Darwish.

In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years, in Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Theology, Hadith Methodology and Commentary, Shama’il, and Logic with teachers such as Dr Ashraf Muneeb, Dr Salah Abu’l-Hajj, Dr Hamza al-Bakri, Shaykh Ahmad Hasanat, Dr Mansur Abu Zina amongst others. He was also given two licences of mastery in the science of Qur’anic recital by Shakh Samir Jabr and Shaykh Yahya Qandil.

His true passion, however, arose in the presence of Shaykh Ali Hani, considered by many to be one of the foremost tafsir scholars of our time who provided him with the keys to the vast knowledge of the Quran. With Shaykh Ali, he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Qur’anic Sciences, Tafsir, Arabic Grammar, and Rhetoric.

When he finally left Jordan for the UK in 2014, Shaykh Ali gave him his distinct blessing and still recommends students in the UK to seek out Shaykh Abdul-Rahim for Quranic studies. Since his return he has trained as a therapist and has helped a number of people overcome emotional and psychosomatic issues. He is a keen promoter of emotional and mental health.

Is it Permissible to Sell and Buy Bollywood Movies?

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: Asalamualaykum,
Is it permissible to own a business that buys and sells Bollywood movies?
Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
The Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Modesty is a branch of faith.” [Bukhari]
Considering the overwhelming amount of impermissible material found in such content, and the harms that can and do often arise from viewing it, it would be unbefitting for a Muslim who cares about his religion to start a business encouraging or even aiding the distribution and access to such content.
If you leave something for the sake of Allah, Allah will facilitate something far better.
And Allah alone gives success.
wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.