What is the ruling on money that comes as an incentive for a specific job that one did not perform? Is it lawful or unlawful?
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The questioner : The questioner says: I am a government employee, and the job sometimes requires overtime. The department I work in assigned me and some of my colleagues to work outside of official hours for a period of forty-five days. I was keen to attend work with my colleagues, but they would come to work without informing me. When I asked one of them, he said to me: "Your turn has not come yet," until the specified period ended. The amount for that work was paid to me and my colleagues. I am confused about this amount: is it lawful or forbidden? My direct supervisor and the department head are satisfied with my work, as I am considered an active employee in their eyes. Perhaps this amount is a reward for my diligence and good work, since my salary is low. If this amount is not lawful, what should I do with it?
The Shaykh : This question occurs frequently. I am asking you now: Is this lawful or unlawful? In other words: Did the person who received this reward for a specific job actually perform that job or not?
The student: He did not perform it.
The Shaykh : He did not perform it. If he did not perform it, then taking the money is taking it without right, and taking money without right is consuming wealth by means of falsehood, exactly. This also involves betraying a trust, even if the direct supervisor agrees. If the direct supervisor agrees to this, he has committed betrayal; he is a betrayer. The money is not his money—I mean the direct supervisor’s—so he cannot dispose of it as he pleases. The money belongs to the state.
I believe this questioner has repented from what he did and wants to be rid of it. I do not say he should return it to the department, as that would cause problems, unless he knows that returning it to the department would lead to his supervisor being tried. In that case, there is no harm. I would like it if such supervisors who do such things had their matter clarified so that the necessary measures are taken against them. However, manipulation is not permissible; this is a trust.
So I say to this brother: Put this money in a mosque, because the mosque is something the state is obligated to build, or something similar for the benefit of the Muslims. By doing so, you will be free of liability. On this occasion, I warn the supervisors and managers who do this kind of work. I say: Fear Allah in what you are entrusted with, and fear Allah also regarding the employees under your control. Do not give them what is not lawful for them, and do not betray the state by giving to those who do not deserve it.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Did he leave the job?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, but I know that they always do this. The officials always do this. They know that the work does not require ten people, so they assign ten, giving them overtime work, even though they know that five would be enough for the work. But they use this as a pretext, or for some reason or another, I do not know.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : If he is of good intention, he does not sin. If it is out of good intention, he does not sin.
The Shaykh : This question occurs frequently. I am asking you now: Is this lawful or unlawful? In other words: Did the person who received this reward for a specific job actually perform that job or not?
The student: He did not perform it.
The Shaykh : He did not perform it. If he did not perform it, then taking the money is taking it without right, and taking money without right is consuming wealth by means of falsehood, exactly. This also involves betraying a trust, even if the direct supervisor agrees. If the direct supervisor agrees to this, he has committed betrayal; he is a betrayer. The money is not his money—I mean the direct supervisor’s—so he cannot dispose of it as he pleases. The money belongs to the state.
I believe this questioner has repented from what he did and wants to be rid of it. I do not say he should return it to the department, as that would cause problems, unless he knows that returning it to the department would lead to his supervisor being tried. In that case, there is no harm. I would like it if such supervisors who do such things had their matter clarified so that the necessary measures are taken against them. However, manipulation is not permissible; this is a trust.
So I say to this brother: Put this money in a mosque, because the mosque is something the state is obligated to build, or something similar for the benefit of the Muslims. By doing so, you will be free of liability. On this occasion, I warn the supervisors and managers who do this kind of work. I say: Fear Allah in what you are entrusted with, and fear Allah also regarding the employees under your control. Do not give them what is not lawful for them, and do not betray the state by giving to those who do not deserve it.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Did he leave the job?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, but I know that they always do this. The officials always do this. They know that the work does not require ten people, so they assign ten, giving them overtime work, even though they know that five would be enough for the work. But they use this as a pretext, or for some reason or another, I do not know.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : If he is of good intention, he does not sin. If it is out of good intention, he does not sin.