I am a young man living in a western country. I work in a telecommunications company and I have a colleague who works with me. We have full control over the money that is paid in by customers. My colleague always takes a share of the money and says that we have the right to do that, on the grounds that the owner of the company does not give us our full rights. The salary that we are given is according to the conditions upon which we accepted the job.
And we do something else too: if one of the customers is one of our acquaintances, we give him a discount.
Please help me, because I tried to advise my colleague but he is convinced that what he is doing is permissible.
Praise be to Allaah.
Allaah has commanded us to fulfil our trusts properly, as
He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, Allaah commands that you should render back the
trusts to those, to whom they are due”
[al-Nisa’ 4:58]
And the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) described betraying the ummah as one of the signs of
hypocrisy, Allaah forbid. It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be
pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks he
lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is entrusted with
something he betrays (that trust).” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 33; Muslim,
59.
With regard to this prohibition, it makes no difference if a
Muslim betrays the trust of a fellow-Muslim or of a kaafir who has entrusted
his wealth or property to him. Rather it is by being honest and trustworthy
that he can give a good example of Muslims. Many nations entered Islam
because of the trustworthiness and honesty of the Muslim traders.
Conversely, if a Muslim is treacherous or tells lies, this puts people off
Islam and turns them away from the path of Allaah.
Al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
If a Muslim enters daar al-harb (non-Muslim lands) in safety
and gains some control over any of their wealth, it is not permissible for
him to take anything of it, great or small, because if they have granted him
safety then they are entitled to the same from him, and because it is not
permissible for him to take anything from them when he is under their
protection except that which he would be permitted to take from the wealth
of the Muslims or of ahl al-dhimmah (non-Muslims living under Muslim
protection).
Al-Umm, 4/284.
Because you have agreed upon a specific salary with the
company, it is not permissible for you to take anything extra without the
knowledge of the company owner. The claim that they are not giving you what
you deserve is no excuse. If you open this door, then every worker will make
similar claims and rights and trusts will be lost.
Similarly it is not permissible for you to give discounts to
anyone or to waive the price altogether. This money is not yours to do that
with. You have to take the price in full no matter who the customers are.
So what you both have to do is to repent to Allaah by giving
up what you are doing, regretting it and resolving not to do it again. You
also have to give back to the company what belongs to it, namely whatever
you took in addition to your salary and the discounts that you allowed to
your acquaintances and friends.
See also the answer to question no.
14367.
And Allaah knows best.
