Fatwa ID: 03702

Answered by: Maulana Irfan Ali

Question

Asslamualaykum,

A person in Bangladesh has a construction business and is involved in bribery etc. What is the ruling regarding borrowing money from him? Or getting involved as business partners?

He has other sources of income as well but the majority of his wealth is a result of bribery.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

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

Answer:

In matters relating to business and borrowing money, one needs to be mindful of the person he’s borrowing from. If a person becomes business partners with such an individual that has been dealing with haram, it is quite possible a person will become part of haram and unlawful actions. In regards to the question, if a person is sure that the dealings of an individual or his money are unlawful, then it will be impermissible to have any business dealings with him.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “May Allah’s curse be on the briber, the bribed and the agent between them. If the majority of the wealth is unlawful then it will be impermissible to borrow money from him also”.

Ibn Nujaym (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

If the greater portion of the giver’s wealth is halal, then there is nothing wrong with accepting his gift and consuming his wealth, so long as it is not clear that it is from the haram portion thereof. If the greater portion of his wealth is haram, he should not accept his gift or consume his wealth, unless he says that it is halal, and he inherited it or borrowed it.[1]

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Irfan Ali

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham