Is it permissible to take an interest of twenty-five percent or a monthly salary of five hundred riyals from workers under one's sponsorship, because with a monthly salary they do not work with sincerity?
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The questioner : Is it permissible to take an interest of twenty-five percent or a monthly salary of five hundred riyals from workers under one's sponsorship, because with a monthly salary they do not work with sincerity? Please inform us. May Allah reward you with all good.
The Shaykh : We say that bringing workers from abroad was done between this importer and the government, may Allah guide them, under certain conditions. Therefore, it is obligatory for him first to observe these conditions, because Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, says:[Al-Ma'idah 5:1] And He, the Exalted, says: [An-Nisa 4:59] And He, the Exalted, says: [Al-Isra 17:34]. Therefore, it is obligatory for the one who brings these workers to first observe the conditions agreed upon between him and the government.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And he must not deviate from them. So, if the government is satisfied that the importer deals with these workers as he wishes, then there is no harm in agreeing with them on a certain percentage, provided that he has an impact in this work for which they agreed on a certain percentage.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : That is, he is the one who accepts the work from people and has an influence, so he is the one held accountable, and they are the executors. If he agrees with them in such a case on a specific condition—meaning a specific share—then there is no blame in it. But as we have mentioned, it must not contradict what was agreed upon with the government.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The Shaykh : We say that bringing workers from abroad was done between this importer and the government, may Allah guide them, under certain conditions. Therefore, it is obligatory for him first to observe these conditions, because Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, says:
O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts.
يا أيها الذين ءامنوا أوفوا بالعقودO you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you
يا أيها الذين ءامنوا أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول وأولي الأمر منكمAnd fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.
وأوفوا بالعهد إن العهد كان مسئولاًThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And he must not deviate from them. So, if the government is satisfied that the importer deals with these workers as he wishes, then there is no harm in agreeing with them on a certain percentage, provided that he has an impact in this work for which they agreed on a certain percentage.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : That is, he is the one who accepts the work from people and has an influence, so he is the one held accountable, and they are the executors. If he agrees with them in such a case on a specific condition—meaning a specific share—then there is no blame in it. But as we have mentioned, it must not contradict what was agreed upon with the government.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.