Fatwa ID: 03072

Answered by: Shaykh Umer Khan​

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

Each of my family members gets a certain [allowance towards the] amount for glasses which they always stay within. However, mine usually go over [the allowance] because my prescription is higher and complicated so the lenses are thicker.

The glasses store usually offers to charge my family members glasses for more and make mine cheaper and balance it out that way so they get the full funds [from the allowance] and I don't have to pay out of pocket.

Would this be allowed Islamically?

Answer:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

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

Allāh tells us in many places in the Qur'ān to honour and uphold our promises, pledges, and contracts. For example, Allāh says: "Oh you who believe, fulfil [your] contracts" (Qur'ān, 5:1).

The Prophet ṣallallāhu ʻalayhi wasallam similarly encouraged us to honour our contracts and promises, and he described one of the signs of a hypocrite as one who "when he makes a promise, he breaks it". (al-Bukhārī, ḥadīth 6095)

Since the funds you are using for the glasses are being provided by a third party (not the glasses store, nor yourself), you will need to check your contract with this third party to ensure that you are not going against any terms and conditions. Please explain to them what you are doing and validate that they do not have any issues with it.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Shaykh Umer Khan

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham