What is the ruling on a middleman or an intercessor (one who mediates to get something done), given that 90% of these intercessions are at the expense of others?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
His EminenceThe Shaykh : What is the ruling on what is called among people a "middleman," and its meaning may not be hidden from you: it is
The Shaykh : the intercessor.
The questioner : It is the intercessor in two matters I want to mention. First: In my opinion, ninety percent of what is commonly known as a "middleman" is at the expense of others, meaning: delaying the more deserving person and advancing someone less deserving. This is regarding the first matter. Then, it is widespread among people, and some make it difficult to say: "Everyone does what they can; everyone does it, so I will do what I can." What is its ruling, may Allah preserve you, and what do you advise people regarding it?
The Shaykh : Seeking intercession for a person to obtain a job or something else, if there is someone more deserving who has already applied for that job, and he knows that if he uses a middleman or intercessor, this person will be advanced over the one who is more deserving, then this is not permissible, because this resembles selling a Muslim over his brother, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that.
As for if the matter has been reserved by the officials and it is not possible for them to employ anyone, even if he is deserving, because they want to advance someone they favor for one reason or another, then he has the right to apply. This is the criterion. He has the right to apply, meaning: to apply through a middleman.
The questioner : At the expense of another person?
The Shaykh : No, no, it is known that it has ended, meaning: for example, it was determined that the job can accommodate one hundred people, and the one hundred applied and the position was filled, and then this person knows that if he seeks intercession, he will join these employees and that will happen for him.
The questioner : This is a common understanding among people that this has been presented.
The Shaykh : The issue of common understanding: people know it now, people know this. The question is: is it permissible for me to make an intercessor in this matter?
His EminenceThe Shaykh : What is the ruling on what is called among people a "middleman," and its meaning may not be hidden from you: it is
The Shaykh : the intercessor.
The questioner : It is the intercessor in two matters I want to mention. First: In my opinion, ninety percent of what is commonly known as a "middleman" is at the expense of others, meaning: delaying the more deserving person and advancing someone less deserving. This is regarding the first matter. Then, it is widespread among people, and some make it difficult to say: "Everyone does what they can; everyone does it, so I will do what I can." What is its ruling, may Allah preserve you, and what do you advise people regarding it?
The Shaykh : Seeking intercession for a person to obtain a job or something else, if there is someone more deserving who has already applied for that job, and he knows that if he uses a middleman or intercessor, this person will be advanced over the one who is more deserving, then this is not permissible, because this resembles selling a Muslim over his brother, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that.
As for if the matter has been reserved by the officials and it is not possible for them to employ anyone, even if he is deserving, because they want to advance someone they favor for one reason or another, then he has the right to apply. This is the criterion. He has the right to apply, meaning: to apply through a middleman.
The questioner : At the expense of another person?
The Shaykh : No, no, it is known that it has ended, meaning: for example, it was determined that the job can accommodate one hundred people, and the one hundred applied and the position was filled, and then this person knows that if he seeks intercession, he will join these employees and that will happen for him.
The questioner : This is a common understanding among people that this has been presented.
The Shaykh : The issue of common understanding: people know it now, people know this. The question is: is it permissible for me to make an intercessor in this matter?