The questioner asks: Is it permissible to take a fee for intercession?

The questioner:
May Allah reward you. Your Eminence, the questioner asks: Is it permissible to take a fee for intercession?

The Shaykh:
No. If one intercedes for his brother and a gift is offered to him, he should not accept it. Otherwise, he has entered a great door of riba (usury or interest), because intercession is intended for the sake of Allah and to benefit the needy, and it is an act of devotion to Allah, so nothing should be taken for it. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner says:

The questioner:
Is there in this

The Shaykh:
Perhaps, perhaps in our present time, this is taken as a bribe. The employees and intermediaries say, “Intercede for us for a fee from the one making the request,” and they share the bribe. Yes.

The presenter:
Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh:
It is worse than merely taking something out of greed for the act of devotion and obedience. If this means an agreement between the employees and the intermediaries to take a sum from the one in need or the one making the request, that is a bribe. Yes. And these are intermediants. May Allah curse the one who gives the bribe, the one who takes it, and the one who mediates between them. The mediator is the one who facilitates the transaction between the giver of the bribe and the taker, even if he does not take anything himself, he is cursed. How much more so if he takes something? Yes.