What is the ruling on a man who wants to employ an imam in a mosque under the name of a Saudi imam, with the permission of some officials of the Ministry of Awqaf?
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The questioner : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : Your Eminence, one of our benefactors built a mosque and appointed an imam at his own expense. However, this imam was unable to have him appointed as an official imam. This imam is a memorizer of the Book of Allah and works at our charitable association. When he inquired about becoming an official imam with the Awqaf, they said: It cannot be done at this time. But there is a way: you can submit the name of another Saudi. Is this action permissible, meaning he takes the place of the Saudi, and they agree between themselves on whatever they agree upon? May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : I am only asking you: is this a lie or the truth?
The questioner : This is a lie.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : This is a lie on the surface.
The Shaykh : And what about the inner reality?
The questioner : I mean, if the responsible authorities... I do not know.
The Shaykh : It is a lie in any case. The responsible authorities who told you this have wronged themselves and wronged you, and betrayed the state. For it is obligatory for the official to proceed according to what is prescribed for him. If he is not pleased with it, let him criticize the official above him and say: I do not accept this; I will employ whoever is qualified, whether Saudi or non-Saudi. But for him to deceive and write in the records the name of a Saudi when the truth is that he is not Saudi, this involves betrayal of the state, lying, and consuming wealth by right. Therefore, it is never permissible for a person to conceal himself and write the job in the name of another in order to take it for himself.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : Your Eminence, one of our benefactors built a mosque and appointed an imam at his own expense. However, this imam was unable to have him appointed as an official imam. This imam is a memorizer of the Book of Allah and works at our charitable association. When he inquired about becoming an official imam with the Awqaf, they said: It cannot be done at this time. But there is a way: you can submit the name of another Saudi. Is this action permissible, meaning he takes the place of the Saudi, and they agree between themselves on whatever they agree upon? May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : I am only asking you: is this a lie or the truth?
The questioner : This is a lie.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : This is a lie on the surface.
The Shaykh : And what about the inner reality?
The questioner : I mean, if the responsible authorities... I do not know.
The Shaykh : It is a lie in any case. The responsible authorities who told you this have wronged themselves and wronged you, and betrayed the state. For it is obligatory for the official to proceed according to what is prescribed for him. If he is not pleased with it, let him criticize the official above him and say: I do not accept this; I will employ whoever is qualified, whether Saudi or non-Saudi. But for him to deceive and write in the records the name of a Saudi when the truth is that he is not Saudi, this involves betrayal of the state, lying, and consuming wealth by right. Therefore, it is never permissible for a person to conceal himself and write the job in the name of another in order to take it for himself.