Is investing a sum of money in a private university with a promise of guaranteed profits, and then not recovering the full principal after the agreed-upon period, considered usury? Are the received profits part of usury? Is Zakat obligatory on the invested amount that has not yet been recovered? And what is the sin committed by someone who takes money while knowing beforehand that they will not be able to repay it?

A Muslim must thoroughly investigate before investing his money and ensure the reliability of the investment entities. Mudarabah (profit-sharing) is permissible in Islam if it is for a permissible activity and the profit percentage is determined. The capital owner bears the loss unless there is misconduct or negligence on the part of the worker. If the money was taken for mudarabah, the profits are calculated, what was taken is deducted, and the remainder is claimed. However, if it was a deception, what was taken is calculated, and the remainder is claimed. There is no zakat on money that is a debt owed by an insolvent person or lost money; zakat is paid on it for one year upon its recovery. Cheating and deception are forbidden, and whoever takes people's money with no intention of returning it is subject to a severe warning.