If the merchant is wealthy, is it better for him to leave trade so that he does not pay taxes, thereby not assisting in sin and transgression?

Al-'Uwaishah: Our Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, I just remembered a question about a person who is financially well-off, having financial abundance. He might be exposed to dealing in financial transfers. Of course, in some matters, it might be within narrow limits that are permissible, for example, customs duties where he is not responsible for them, and transfers from one country to another, and so on. But, for example, like the issue of customs duties, if he is financially well-off, is it not said here that, so as not to assist in sin and transgression, he should leave this trade, for instance, since he can do without it?

The Shaykh : He leaves trade so that he does not pay taxes.

The questioner : Yes, that is right.

The Shaykh : Well, is there any way to escape paying taxes? You and I, our universities here, pay taxes.

The questioner : Yes, there is no way.

The Shaykh : Well, if there is no way, then observing this aspect is, first of all, not an obligation, but rather a matter of taqwa (mindfulness of Allah), as we say in some of our fatwas: there is taqwa, and there is a fatwa. Here it is taqwa, not a fatwa in the sense of it being obligatory. Second, if this door were opened, Muslims would fall into hardship.