Fatwa ID: 07599

Answered by: Maulana Abdoullah limvoonheek 

Question:

Assalamu alaykum Akhi 

I gave a friend a certain amount and he works with my money. He suggested that depending on how the business is going, I get 3-5% a month. He has a cleaning company, catering and other things. I’ve been doing this for 2 years and he says to me that things aren’t going well at the moment and I’ve been getting 3% for 10 months. 

My question is whether that’s interest or a normal business. My imam from the mosque said it’s tijara but wanted to make sure again. Barakallahu feek.

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

Answer:

Wa alaikumus salaam 

The scenario you mention is shirkat (partnership) where you have given money to a person and he is using it for the running of a business.

In every deal, there must be a contract written down and there must be a specified and a fixed ratio or percentages for the wages from the profit gained. This will not be considered as interest.

The drawing of a contract is necessary. So that in the future there is no disagreement or any dispute. Everything should be made clear with witnesses.

However, if you want to be rewarded just give the money as a loan and help your brother. He can work on his own and pay you back the money. As the hadith mentions: “is at the back of a servant so long as the servant is at the back of his brother.”

Hope this answers the question.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Abdoullah limvoonheek 

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

Reference:

فِي عَوْنِ الْعَبْدِ مَا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي عَوْنِ أَخِيهِ

Sahih Muslim Hadith 2699

(وَمِنْهَا) : أَنْ يَكُونَ الرِّبْحُ مَعْلُومَ الْقَدْرِ، فَإِنْ كَانَ مَجْهُولًا تَفْسُدُ الشَّرِكَةُ؛ لِأَنَّ الرِّبْحَ هُوَ الْمَعْقُودُ عَلَيْهِ، وَجَهَالَتُهُ تُوجِبُ فَسَادَ الْعَقْدِ كَمَا فِي الْبَيْعِ وَالْإِجَارَةِ.

(وَمِنْهَا) : أَنْ يَكُونَ الرِّبْحُ جُزْءًا شَائِعًا فِي الْجُمْلَةِ، لَا مُعَيَّنًا، فَإِنْ عَيَّنَا عَشَرَةً، أَوْ مِائَةً، أَوْ نَحْوَ ذَلِكَ كَانَتْ الشَّرِكَةُ فَاسِدَةً؛ لِأَنَّ الْعَقْدَ يَقْتَضِي تَحَقُّقَ الشَّرِكَةِ فِي الرِّبْحِ وَالتَّعْيِينُ يَقْطَعُ الشَّرِكَةَ لِجَوَازِ أَنْ لَا يَحْصُلَ مِنْ الرِّبْحِ إلَّا الْقَدْرُ الْمُعَيَّنُ لِأَحَدِهِمَا، فَلَا يَتَحَقَّقُ الشَّرِكَةُ فِي الرِّبْحِ

بدائع الصنائع ج٦ ص٥٩