بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
In this post we will discuss what Allah says about impermissible forms of income.
Haram income does not only affect the sinner themselves but also the people around them. One can obtain money through haram means and feed one’s family with this income in turn affecting them too.
It is not merely limited to income through drugs/alcohol or gambling etc. but any income that is obtained because of an activity one engaged in that displeases Allah is considered haram. This could be lying, cheating, deceiving people – any haram action leading to any sort of income.
The severity of haram income is not to be taken lightly. Let’s take a major sin such as consuming alcohol. If one were to sell it, then they are committing double the treason; one for the act of selling it to a consumer and another is the money gained from it, which is worse than consumption – this works the same for drugs.
Similarly, acts committed in industries such as prostitution or pornography are major sins. For the people earning from it, they are gaining double the major sins, and for the people that own the companies they are gaining more than double; encouraging immorality and earning from the business.
These however are not as common within the Muslim community as acts such as lying to obtain a job or getting paid for work which one did not carry out. Faking certificates, lying in CV’s, seeking intercession for a job one knows that one is incapable of undertaking. These all fall into the category of haram acts which can then lead to haram income.
Even things like discounts or benefits which one lied to obtain. Gaining some sort of income – money or other – by bending the truth on a document or application to qualify for these benefits or others. There are many other forms of haram income that branch from what we discussed. They have become such a norm in the world even within our Ummah.
The prophet said: “A time will come upon the people when one will not care how one gains one’s money, legally or illegally.” [Bukhari]
We are living in these times now. We have become so greedy as to not even care or ask ourselves where we are gaining our income. These have effects on society both on the people obtaining the money and the people around them. Allah says in the Qur’an:
“O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.” 2:172
“O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteously. Indeed, I, of what you do, am Knowing.” 23:51
Allah is directly talking to the messengers for the people to understand that nothing will be accepted of us through consuming haram.
The effects of haram income is not only limited to the dunya but also our afterlife. We will discuss the punishments related to these acts in a future post if Allah wills.
Let us conclude with a hadith from the prophet on this matter; he said: “O people, Allah is Good and He therefore, accepts only that which is good. And Allah commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers by saying: “O Messengers, eat of the good things, and do good deeds; verily I am aware of what you do” [23:51]. And He said: “O those who believe, eat of the good things that We gave you” [2:172]. He then made a mention of a person who travels widely, his hair dishevelled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky (and thus makes the supplication): “O Lord, O Lord,” whereas his diet is haram, his drink is haram, and his clothes are haram and his nourishment is haram. How can then his supplication be accepted?” [Muslim]
Allah knows best.