A school principal forces teachers to donate to help those who get married
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Fatwa number ( 20704 )
Q: I have a brother who works in one of the schools, and the principal of that school is a person of righteousness in appearance—we consider him so, and Allah is his accountant, and we do not declare anyone pure before Allah—but he has a strange habit, which he clings to and does not want to give up. It is that if any of the teachers in that school wants to get married, he
orders the payroll officer to deduct a specific amount of money from every teacher's salary, whether they agree or not, under the pretext of helping the one who is getting married. And of course, he says: I am not forcing anyone to pay, and the teacher can choose not to pay. But this is theoretical talk; because the reality of the matter is that many of the teachers cannot object, either out of shyness and embarrassment from the principal, or so as not to be accused of stinginess. And after salaries became paid by check, and every teacher receives his salary directly from the bank, the situation continued as it was, but in another form; where a paper is circulated containing the names of the teachers and the amount each one paid, which is fixed and does not increase or decrease. So the teacher who does not want to pay the amount, when the paper reaches him, pays; because he knows that the paper will be handed to the one who is getting married, and he is embarrassed for the paper to be sent with his name listed without the amount that is supposed to be next to it. Also, the teacher who does not pay is asked: Why do you not pay? And it is said to him: We are paying for you now, and then you will return it to us. So he is forced to pay under the sword of shyness or embarrassment. And many of the teachers have stated to their colleagues that they did not pay the money except out of shyness and embarrassment, otherwise their souls were not at peace with it. And the strange thing—as I said before—is that this principal, despite his apparent righteousness, clings to this habit in a strange way, under the pretext that it is a necessary help, and that the amount taken from the teacher is small and does not harm him. It appears that he is influenced by the social situation; where this habit is widespread among many school principals. Also, he believes that he is establishing a good Sunnah,
and that he cannot back down from it after he has started it. So I hope—O honorable Shaykh—that you clarify for us the ruling on this principal's action. If it is permissible, then praise be to Allah. And if it is not permissible, we hope that you clarify the ruling in a satisfying manner, and direct advice to him to leave this action which makes him sinful before Allah the Exalted, as it also makes him exposed to backbiting and mockery from his fellow teachers. We also hope for clarification of the ruling on the teachers' action, meaning: Is it permissible for them to pay the money while they are not pleased, or must they declare the truth of what is in their hearts to the principal?
A: From the established principles in the Shari'ah is that the wealth of a Muslim is not lawful except with the willing consent of his soul, as indicated by the numerous texts. Accordingly, it is not permissible to compel the teachers to pay any of their salaries to some of their colleagues except with their consent and the willing consent of their souls. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his companions.
Q: I have a brother who works in one of the schools, and the principal of that school is a person of righteousness in appearance—we consider him so, and Allah is his accountant, and we do not declare anyone pure before Allah—but he has a strange habit, which he clings to and does not want to give up. It is that if any of the teachers in that school wants to get married, he
orders the payroll officer to deduct a specific amount of money from every teacher's salary, whether they agree or not, under the pretext of helping the one who is getting married. And of course, he says: I am not forcing anyone to pay, and the teacher can choose not to pay. But this is theoretical talk; because the reality of the matter is that many of the teachers cannot object, either out of shyness and embarrassment from the principal, or so as not to be accused of stinginess. And after salaries became paid by check, and every teacher receives his salary directly from the bank, the situation continued as it was, but in another form; where a paper is circulated containing the names of the teachers and the amount each one paid, which is fixed and does not increase or decrease. So the teacher who does not want to pay the amount, when the paper reaches him, pays; because he knows that the paper will be handed to the one who is getting married, and he is embarrassed for the paper to be sent with his name listed without the amount that is supposed to be next to it. Also, the teacher who does not pay is asked: Why do you not pay? And it is said to him: We are paying for you now, and then you will return it to us. So he is forced to pay under the sword of shyness or embarrassment. And many of the teachers have stated to their colleagues that they did not pay the money except out of shyness and embarrassment, otherwise their souls were not at peace with it. And the strange thing—as I said before—is that this principal, despite his apparent righteousness, clings to this habit in a strange way, under the pretext that it is a necessary help, and that the amount taken from the teacher is small and does not harm him. It appears that he is influenced by the social situation; where this habit is widespread among many school principals. Also, he believes that he is establishing a good Sunnah,
and that he cannot back down from it after he has started it. So I hope—O honorable Shaykh—that you clarify for us the ruling on this principal's action. If it is permissible, then praise be to Allah. And if it is not permissible, we hope that you clarify the ruling in a satisfying manner, and direct advice to him to leave this action which makes him sinful before Allah the Exalted, as it also makes him exposed to backbiting and mockery from his fellow teachers. We also hope for clarification of the ruling on the teachers' action, meaning: Is it permissible for them to pay the money while they are not pleased, or must they declare the truth of what is in their hearts to the principal?
A: From the established principles in the Shari'ah is that the wealth of a Muslim is not lawful except with the willing consent of his soul, as indicated by the numerous texts. Accordingly, it is not permissible to compel the teachers to pay any of their salaries to some of their colleagues except with their consent and the willing consent of their souls. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.