Fatwa ID: 07822
Written by Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Question:
Assalamu Alaikum Dear brother, In sha Allah you and your family are doing well.
I have a question about commission.
There is a person who works in a property management company and she basically helps people get an apartment through her, for money.
That means, for example, a brother applies through her, he pays €5000 and then gets the apartment.
Is that halal?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Wa alaikum as salām wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh,
It is permissible for a Muslim to work in property management as a real estate agent or as a real estate broker. Selling and buying residential and commercial properties are permissible activities and acting as a real estate agent or broker essentially consists of facilitating the sale as either an agent (wakil) or employee (aajir) and receiving a commission for it.
If the description you are describing fits a Shariah-compliant contract, under which a depositor (or muwakkil) appoints another to act as his agent or to manage an investment on his behalf then it is halal. The investment manager or agent (known as a wakeel) is entitled to a pre-agreed fixed fee or a fee calculated as a percentage of the net asset value of the investment. The fee may be paid on account with a reconciliation made on a winding up of the investment. The investment manager may also be paid an incentive fee.
The following are conditions which would make the dealing between the agent and the client seeking a property impermissible:
1. It is impermissible to direct the buyer to a bank, mortgage company or other financing entity so that the financing entity will advance them a usurious (riba based) loan, as this would be facilitating a riba transaction, which is haram.
2. It is impermissible to facilitate the execution of any usurious (riba based) financing by which the buyer purchases the home.
In the Quran, Allah says:
“Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest…”
[Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:275]
In summary, working as a real estate agent is permissible in Islam, provided one adheres to ethical standards and avoids direct involvement in riba-based transactions. By focusing on transparent dealings, promoting Islamic financing options when possible, and avoiding properties used for haram purposes, one can work in this field in a way that aligns with Islamic values.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References
(الْفَصْلُ الرَّابِعَ عَشَرَ فِي الْوَكَالَاتِ) وَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ وَكَالَةً عَامَّةً بِالْبَيْعِ إنْ شِئْتَ كَتَبْتَ: هَذَا مَا وَكَّلَ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ كَتَبْتَ: هَذَا مَا شَهِدَ إلَخْ أَنَّ فُلَانًا وَكَّلَ فُلَانًا بِبَيْعِ جَمِيعِ دَارِهِ وَتُحَدُّ الدَّارُ بِحُدُودِهَا كُلِّهَا وَمَرَافِقِهَا أَرْضِهَا وَبِنَائِهَا وَكَالَةً صَحِيحَةً جَائِزَةً نَافِذَةً عَلَى أَنْ يَعْمَلَ هَذَا الْوَكِيلُ فِيهَا بِرَأْيِهِ وَيُوَكِّلُ بِذَلِكَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ وَيَبِيعَهَا بِمَا أَحَبَّ وَيَجُوزُ مَا صَنَعَ فِي ذَلِكَ مِنْ شَيْءٍ وَيَقْبِضُ ثَمَنَهَا إذَا بَاعَهَا وَيُسَلِّمُهَا إلَى مَنْ يَشْتَرِيهَا وَيُوَكِّلُ بِذَلِكَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ وَقَبِلَ هَذَا الْوَكِيلُ هَذِهِ الْوَكَالَةَ الْمَوْصُوفَةَ فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ مِنْ هَذَا الْمُوَكِّلِ بِمُوَاجَهَتِهِ إيَّاهُ قَبْلَ افْتِرَاقِهِمَا وَاشْتِغَالِهِمَا بِغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ وَسَلَّمَ هَذَا الْمُوَكِّلُ الْمُسَمَّى فِيهِ جَمِيعَ مَا وَقَعَ التَّوْكِيلُ بِبَيْعِهِ عَلَى مَا يُسَمَّى فِيهِ إلَى هَذَا الْوَكِيلِ الْمُسَمَّى فِيهِ وَقَبَضَهَا مِنْهُ فَارِغَةً عَمَّا يَشْغَلُهَا مِنْ الْقَبْضِ وَالتَّسْلِيمِ فَجَمِيعُ ذَلِكَ فِي يَدِهِ بِحُكْمِ هَذِهِ الْوَكَالَةِ ثُمَّ يُنْهِي الْكِتَابَ إلَى آخِرِهِ، كَذَا فِي الظَّهِيرِيَّةِ.
ص322 – كتاب الفتاوى العالمكيرية الفتاوى الهندية – الفصل الرابع عشر في الوكالات – المكتبة الشاملة
وَاَحَلَّ اللّٰهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبٰواۜ
