Question:

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Respected Ulama-e-Keram
As Salamu Alaikum Oa Rahmatullah
I wهll be very grateful if you respond to my following query.
(1) If someone receives interest or bribe money from buyer while selling goods or services will it be permissible for him

(a) when the buyer owns the money from a person who willingly gives that interest or bribe?
(b) when the buyer owns the money from a person who unwillingly gives that interest or bribe?
May Allah bless you with peace of here & hereafter.
Oas Salam

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Our understanding of the query is as follows:

Person A has in his possession money that he attained through interest and bribery. Person A uses this money to purchase a commodity from Person B.

If our understanding of the query is correct, hereunder is the answer to the query:

If person B is certain that the money person A is using is exactly the same money he attained through interest and bribery, there are two scenarios.[1] They are as follows:

1. If Person A is a non-Muslim, then it is permissible for Person B to accept such money.

2. If person A is a Muslim, it is not permissible for Person B to accept such money. [2] If such money is accepted, it must be returned or given away in Sadaqah.

However, if Person A mixes the money he attained through interest and bribery with his other money, then the following scenarios are applicable:[3]

1. If Person B is certain that Person A has more Halal money than Haram money, then it is permissible for Person B to accept such money.

2. If Person B is certain that Person A has more Haram money than Halal money, then the abovementioned two scenarios will apply i.e. the ruling will depend on whether Person A is a Muslim or non-Muslim.

3. If Person B is certain that Person A has more Haram money than Halal money, however Person A specifies that only Halal money is being used in this transaction, then it is permissible for Person B to accept such money.

4. If Person B does not know whether Person A has more Halal money or more Haram money, then it is permissible for Person B to accept such money.[4]

Note: The ruling in this Fatwa is applicable regardless of whether Person A attained the Haram money from one who gave such money willingly or unwillingly. In both cases, this ruling stands valid.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

(Mufti) Abdul Azeem bin Abdur Rahman

Disclaimer:

The Shar’a ruling herein given is based specifically on the question posed and should be read in conjunction with the question.

Darul Iftaa Texas bears no responsibility to any party who may or may not act on this answer and is being hereby exempted from loss or damage howsoever caused.

This answer may not be used as evidence in any Court of Law without prior written consent of Darul Iftaa Texas.

[1]  اإمداد الأحكام، ج 4، ص 390، مكتبه دار العلوم كراتشى

[2]  فتاوي محمودية، ج 18، ص 414، فاروقية

[3]  آكِلُ الرَّبَّا وَكَاسِبُ الْحَرَامِ أَهْدَى إلَيْهِ أَوْ أَضَافَهُ وَغَالِبُ مَالِهِ حَرَامٌ لَا يَقْبَلُ، وَلَا يَأْكُلُ مَا لَمْ يُخْبِرْهُ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ الْمَالَ أَصْلُهُ حَلَالٌ وَرِثَهُ أَوْ اسْتَقْرَضَهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ غَالِبُ مَالِهِ حَلَالًا لَا بَأْسَ بِقَبُولِ هَدِيَّتِهِ وَالْأَكْلِ مِنْهَا، كَذَا فِي الْمُلْتَقَطِ. (الفتاوى الهندية، ج 5، ص 343، المكتبه الرشيديه)

[4]  وَفِي حَظْرِ الْأَشْبَاهِ: الْحُرْمَةُ تَتَعَدَّدُ مَعَ الْعِلْمِ بِهَا إلَّا فِي حَقِّ الْوَارِثِ (الدر المختار، ج 5، ص 98-99، سعيد)

مَطْلَبٌ الْحُرْمَةُ تَتَعَدَّدُ (قَوْلُهُ الْحُرْمَةُ تَتَعَدَّدُ إلَخْ) نَقَلَ الْحَمَوِيُّ عَنْ سَيِّدِي عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ الشَّعْرَانِيِّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي كِتَابِهِ الْمِنَنِ: وَمَا نُقِلَ عَنْ بَعْضِ الْحَنِيفَةِ مِنْ أَنَّ الْحَرَامَ لَا يَتَعَدَّى ذِمَّتَيْنِ، سَأَلْت عَنْهُ الشِّهَابَ ابْنَ الشَّلَبِيِّ فَقَالَ: هُوَ مَحْمُولٌ عَلَى مَا إذَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِذَلِكَ، أَمَّا لَوْ رَأَى الْمَكَّاسَ مَثَلًا يَأْخُذُ مِنْ أَحَدٍ شَيْئًا مِنْ الْمَكْسِ ثُمَّ يُعْطِيهِ آخَرَ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْآخَرِ آخَرَ فَهُوَ حَرَامٌ اهـ. (رد المحتار، ج 5، ص 98، سعيد

حاشية فتاوي محمودية، ج 18، ص 414، فاروقية