ZonEMvS

Prohibitions in Islam - Page 27

then let him do so.” (Reported by Muslim, 4/1726). The person who uses his position to benefit others by averting injustice or bringing some good, without doing anything that is haram or infringes on the rights of others, will be rewarded by Allah, so long as his intention is sincere, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told us: “Intercede, you will be rewarded.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, 5132; the hadith is also reported in Al-Sahihayn, see Fath Al-Bari, 10/450, Kitab Al-adab, Baab ta’aawun Al-mu’mineen ba’duhum ba’dan).

It is not permitted to accept anything in return for this intercession or mediation. Evidence for this may be seen in the hadith narrated by Abu Umaamah (may Allah be pleased with him): "Whoever intercedes for someone then accepts a gift (in return for it), has committed a serious type of riba." (Reported by Imam Ahmad, 5/261; see Sahih Al-Jami', 6292).

Some people offer the opportunity to benefit from their position, in return for a sum of money, in order to help someone get a job, or a transfer from one office or area to another, or treatment for the sick, etc. The soundest opinion is that this exchange is haram, because of the hadith of Abu Umaamah quoted above, whose apparent meaning is that accepting such gifts is wrong, even if no agreement was previously made. (From the spoken statements of 'Abd Al-'Azeez Ibn Baaz). The reward which the doers of good will receive from Allah on the Day of Judgement should be sufficient. A man came to Al-Hasan Ibn Sahl asking him to intercede for him in some matter, which he did; then the man came to thank him. Al-Hasan Ibn Sahl said to him, "Why are you thanking us? We believe that Zakath is due on positions of rank just as it is due on wealth." (Ibn Muflih, Al-Aadaab Al-Shar'iyyah, 2/176).

It is worth pointing out here that there is a difference between hiring someone to do legal paperwork for you and paying him wages in return, which has to do with the legitimate hiring of labor, and using a person's position to intercede for you in return for money, which is haram.

Hiring someone and benefitting from his labor, then not paying him his wages

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) encouraged speedy payment of wages to people hired for their labor. He said: “Give the hired man his wages before his sweat dries.” (Reported by Ibn Maajah, 2/817; see also Sahih Al-Jami’, 1493).

One form of oppression or injustice that is common in Muslim societies is the failure to give employees and workers their rights. This takes many forms, for example: Denying an employee’s rights in totality, where the employee has no proof of his rights. He may have lost his dues in this world, but he will not lose them before Allah on the Day of Resurrection. So the oppressor who consumed the money due to the victim will be brought forth, and his victim will be given some of his hasanaat in compensation (i.e. some of the oppressor’s good deeds will be added to his victim’s credit). If the hasanaat are not enough, some of the victim’s sayi’aat (bad deeds) will be added to the oppressor, and then he will be thrown into Hell.

Not giving the employee his full rights. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Woe to Al-Mutaffifeen [those who give less in measure and weight (decrease the rights of others)].” [Al-Mutaffifeen 83:1] One