A man agreed with a hospital employee to discharge a patient in a certain way without the patient's family paying the costs of treatment and hospitalization. What is the ruling?
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The questioner : He says: A man agreed with a hospital employee to discharge a patient in a certain way without the patient's family paying the costs of treatment and hospitalization. What is the ruling of Islam in this case, and does the sin fall on the patient, the employee, or both the patient and the employee, whether the patient is poor or rich?
The Shaykh : This action is forbidden because it involves consuming people's wealth unjustly.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The patient who entered this hospital on the basis that he would pay the costs and the fee for residence is not permissible to be discharged from it except through a clear means so that the compensation can be collected from him. As for discharging him in a way that involves hiding so that he is not bound by what he committed to, this is forbidden. The prohibition is not specific to the patient but is general for the patient and for whoever sought to discharge the patient, whether an employee or a guardian. This is forbidden for all of them because it is cooperation in sin and aggression. And Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:2].
This method, in reality, is what has harmed the Muslims and ruined their reputation among the people of the world. It is what happens with some Muslims in such matters that involve deception, stratagem, and consuming people's wealth unjustly, which is forbidden and not permissible. So the patient, if the matter has occurred, should repent to Allah. Likewise, the employee should repent. And the completion of repentance, without which repentance does not drop, is that he goes to the hospital authorities and hands them the compensation he committed to.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : His final question says:
The Shaykh : This action is forbidden because it involves consuming people's wealth unjustly.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The patient who entered this hospital on the basis that he would pay the costs and the fee for residence is not permissible to be discharged from it except through a clear means so that the compensation can be collected from him. As for discharging him in a way that involves hiding so that he is not bound by what he committed to, this is forbidden. The prohibition is not specific to the patient but is general for the patient and for whoever sought to discharge the patient, whether an employee or a guardian. This is forbidden for all of them because it is cooperation in sin and aggression. And Allah the Exalted said:
but do not cooperate in sin and aggression
وَلا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِThis method, in reality, is what has harmed the Muslims and ruined their reputation among the people of the world. It is what happens with some Muslims in such matters that involve deception, stratagem, and consuming people's wealth unjustly, which is forbidden and not permissible. So the patient, if the matter has occurred, should repent to Allah. Likewise, the employee should repent. And the completion of repentance, without which repentance does not drop, is that he goes to the hospital authorities and hands them the compensation he committed to.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : His final question says: