Does an employee receive a check at the end of the year for safety, and is it permissible for him to sell it for less than its value?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
O Shaykh, may Allah preserve you: Our company pays us a check. The company I work for pays us this check at the end of the Gregorian year, worth one hundred and seventy-three riyals, in exchange for safety, meaning traffic accidents. And this check, meaning, can only be bought from one company, which is Saco. Meaning, it is not permissible to buy with it, or to spend the money.
The Shaykh : What is its value?
The questioner : One hundred and seventy-three riyals.
The Shaykh : One hundred and seventy-three riyals.
The questioner : Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : Only?
The questioner : But what is this, in exchange for safety, but this check.
The Shaykh : Meaning one hundred thousand?
The questioner : No, one hundred and seventy riyals.
The Shaykh : But?
The questioner : Yes, so this check, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : In exchange for what, safety?
The questioner : I mean from accidents and traffic violations.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Meaning, you cannot withdraw money with it, but the goods bought with this check are goods from Saco. So the question is, is it permissible for us to sell this check for a lower price, I mean one hundred and twenty? Is it considered a commodity or money?
The Shaykh : No, it is not permissible at all, because you are giving it to me as if it were coins, but I have doubt about this transaction. On what basis did they give you the matter of safety? They have no share in it.
The questioner : I work in the company.
The Shaykh : I understand, but if Allah keeps you safe from accidents, is that from your action?
The questioner : No, it is not from my action.
The Shaykh : It is from Allah (Mighty and Majestic). How do they give you compensation for something that is not from your action? And if it is a reward, how can it be a reward of one hundred and thirty-seven riyals?
The questioner : This check, O Shaykh, is with me.
The Shaykh : It is a certificate. It says, "This is a certificate." It is written on it that this certificate entitles the bearer, then there is English writing I do not know, to obtain goods worth one hundred and seventy-three, such and such. I do not know, and I do not know, I do not know the answer to it.
The questioner : Meaning, if you sell it for less?
The Shaykh : No, do not sell it. Perhaps it is permissible for you to take it now. No, do not sell it. If you do not want it, return it to them.
The questioner : Well, O Shaykh, for example, if you were regular with traffic, with traffic lights, or with these, then this would be an incentive for you and a prize from the company for you.
The Shaykh : One hundred and seventy-three riyals. What is this? Well, a person buys a carton of apples.
The questioner : Well, I do not know. Should I return it, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes, by Allah, I think the most cautious thing is for you to return it, because I have doubt about it by Allah. If these matters are great with them, then... one hundred and seventy-three, and now one hundred and seventy-three. Their benefit is that he says you must buy your needs from them.
The questioner : No, it is not from them, it is from another company.
The Shaykh : Or from another company. And what do they have to do with you, as long as it is my property? I do with it what I want.
The questioner : There are many employees, perhaps around ten thousand.
The Shaykh : As for me, I do not have an answer for it, and the safest thing for you is that you return it, and that is all.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh, regarding the matter.
The Shaykh : You are one of the students. May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : No, no, the guests first. Perhaps, if Allah wills, they will finish, and you will be the first.
O Shaykh, may Allah preserve you: Our company pays us a check. The company I work for pays us this check at the end of the Gregorian year, worth one hundred and seventy-three riyals, in exchange for safety, meaning traffic accidents. And this check, meaning, can only be bought from one company, which is Saco. Meaning, it is not permissible to buy with it, or to spend the money.
The Shaykh : What is its value?
The questioner : One hundred and seventy-three riyals.
The Shaykh : One hundred and seventy-three riyals.
The questioner : Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : Only?
The questioner : But what is this, in exchange for safety, but this check.
The Shaykh : Meaning one hundred thousand?
The questioner : No, one hundred and seventy riyals.
The Shaykh : But?
The questioner : Yes, so this check, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : In exchange for what, safety?
The questioner : I mean from accidents and traffic violations.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Meaning, you cannot withdraw money with it, but the goods bought with this check are goods from Saco. So the question is, is it permissible for us to sell this check for a lower price, I mean one hundred and twenty? Is it considered a commodity or money?
The Shaykh : No, it is not permissible at all, because you are giving it to me as if it were coins, but I have doubt about this transaction. On what basis did they give you the matter of safety? They have no share in it.
The questioner : I work in the company.
The Shaykh : I understand, but if Allah keeps you safe from accidents, is that from your action?
The questioner : No, it is not from my action.
The Shaykh : It is from Allah (Mighty and Majestic). How do they give you compensation for something that is not from your action? And if it is a reward, how can it be a reward of one hundred and thirty-seven riyals?
The questioner : This check, O Shaykh, is with me.
The Shaykh : It is a certificate. It says, "This is a certificate." It is written on it that this certificate entitles the bearer, then there is English writing I do not know, to obtain goods worth one hundred and seventy-three, such and such. I do not know, and I do not know, I do not know the answer to it.
The questioner : Meaning, if you sell it for less?
The Shaykh : No, do not sell it. Perhaps it is permissible for you to take it now. No, do not sell it. If you do not want it, return it to them.
The questioner : Well, O Shaykh, for example, if you were regular with traffic, with traffic lights, or with these, then this would be an incentive for you and a prize from the company for you.
The Shaykh : One hundred and seventy-three riyals. What is this? Well, a person buys a carton of apples.
The questioner : Well, I do not know. Should I return it, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes, by Allah, I think the most cautious thing is for you to return it, because I have doubt about it by Allah. If these matters are great with them, then... one hundred and seventy-three, and now one hundred and seventy-three. Their benefit is that he says you must buy your needs from them.
The questioner : No, it is not from them, it is from another company.
The Shaykh : Or from another company. And what do they have to do with you, as long as it is my property? I do with it what I want.
The questioner : There are many employees, perhaps around ten thousand.
The Shaykh : As for me, I do not have an answer for it, and the safest thing for you is that you return it, and that is all.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh, regarding the matter.
The Shaykh : You are one of the students. May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : No, no, the guests first. Perhaps, if Allah wills, they will finish, and you will be the first.