Fatwa ID: 06935

Answered by: Maulana Ousman Haye

Question:

1) If an agent or broker is selling something of behalf of someone else in return for a commission that is unknown by the agent, then will the commission he earned be permissible? For e.g. If person A gives person B a car to sell with the condition that he will get a cut of the profit, but he doesn’t mention the amount/percentage then is it permissible for person B to use the commission?

2) Similarly if an employee is working for a salary which is unknown then will his income be lawful. For e.g. If it is stated on his contract that he will be payed according to how well he does the job.

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

Answer:

It is permitted to pay or take a commission in the form of a percentage from the sale of the item. However, the percentage amount or commission fee must be agreed upon earlier. This fee or percentage amount must not be left vague as this will surely lead to disputes after the sale of the time.

As a general rule in a financial transaction, there needs to be mutual agreement (trade) as mentioned in the Quran (4:29). This is usually when there is clarity on all parts.

Therefore, in order for the commission contract to be valid, there must be an agreement of a certain fee or percentage prior to sale of the item. If there is no agreement, this will lead to fights and disputes which are not permissible.

Similarly, one should not work with an unknown salary as this will also lead to disputes between the employer and employee. In all financial agreements or dealing, there must be full clarity.

وَيُجْبَرُ الْمُسْتَأْجِرُ عَلَى دَفْعِ مَا قَبِلَ) فَيَجِبُ الْمُسَمَّى بِعَقْدٍ
(رد المحتار، ج٦، ص٥٦، دار الفكر)

قَالَ فِي التتارخانية: وَفِي الدَّلَّالِ وَالسِّمْسَارِ يَجِبُ أَجْرُ الْمِثْلِ، وَمَا تَوَاضَعُوا عَلَيْهِ أَنَّ فِي كُلِّ عَشَرَةِ دَنَانِيرَ كَذَا فَذَاكَ حَرَامٌ
عَلَيْهِمْ. وَفِي الْحَاوِي: سُئِلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أُجْرَةِ السِّمْسَارِ، فَقَالَ: أَرْجُو أَنَّهُ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي الْأَصْلِ فَاسِدًا لِكَثْرَةِ
التَّعَامُلِ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْ هَذَا غَيْرُ جَائِزٍ، فَجَوَّزُوهُ لِحَاجَةِ النَّاسِ إلَيْهِ كَدُخُولِ الْحَمَّامِ وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ ابْنَ شُجَاعٍ يُقَاطِعُ نَسَّاجًا يَنْسِجُ لَهُ
ثِيَابًا فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ.
(رد المحتار، ج٦، ص٦٣، دار الفكر)

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ تِجَـٰرَةً عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنكُمْ
(النساء: 29)

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Ousman Haye

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham