The Ruling on Taking the Annual Allowance

The questioner:
May Allah reward you. The questioner asks: Your Eminence the Shaykh, what is called the *muna'ah* (annual allowance), is there any issue with taking it? And what about the *sababiyyah*?

The Shaykh:
This is from the public treasury, and there is no harm in it. The *muna'ah* is the annual custom from the public treasury, and there is no harm in it, because the public treasury is shared, and whoever Allah provides for leaves it for these people. Thank you for the annual custom. The annual lentils are like the *muna'ah*; they are all one and the same. It is called annual lentils and it is called...

The presenter:
May Allah reward you. Is it more severe than riba (usury or interest)?

The Shaykh:
*Suhut* (illicit gain) is forbidden absolutely. Riba is a type of *suhut*, theft is a type of *suhut*, betrayal of trust is a type of *suhut*, and oppression and highway robbery are types of *suhut*, and so on are the types of taking money without its right.

The presenter:
You differ in the matter of the *jarf* (cutting off).

The Shaykh:
There is no doubt.