Can One Book Invoices at a Higher Price than What It is Sold?
Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Carr
Question
Is it permissible to book clothes at higher prices than their size at my laundry company job? If I comply, am I considered a betrayer or accountable for violating human rights?
Answer
It would be impermissible and wrong for you to book the clothes at a higher price in this way. It is wrong to cheat or deceive others. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) clarified that one is liable to repay any money obtained through such means. And while it is true that Islam clears the sins of one’s past, this doesn’t lift any financial liabilities one has.
[Khadimi, Al-Bariqa Sharh al-Tariqa]
Quranic Command and Prophetic Teaching
The believers are also’ those who are true to their trusts and covenants; and those who are ‘properly’ observant of their prayers. These are the ones who will be awarded. Paradise as their own. They will be there forever [Quran, 23: 8-11]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Return the trust to those who entrusted you and do not betray those who betrayed you” [Muslim]
The word’ Amana,’ mentioned in the Quran, means trust, honesty, responsibility, and integrity in all the duties Allah (Most High) has placed upon humans.
Allah give us all success to deal rightly, honestly, and in line with fulfilling Allah-given commands and prophetic guidance, Amin.
Secure Job Elsewhere
I would advise you to look for work elsewhere and secure it before leaving this job. Allah Most High will replace you with better and blessed sustenance (rizq), in shaAllah.
Abu Qatada reports that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ‘Verily, you will never leave anything for the sake of Allah (Most High), but that Allah will replace it with something better for you.’ [Musnad Aḥmad]
Related Answers
Welfare and Deception – SeekersGuidance
How Do I Return Stolen Items When I Can’t Find Their Owners? – (seekersguidance.org)
(277) 88 – Deception, Cheating, & Concern – Birgivi’s The Path of Muhammad Explained – Sh. Faraz Rabbani – YouTube
The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained – YouTube
A Reader on Patience and Reliance on Allah – SeekersGuidance
I pray this helps with your question.
[Shaykh] Muhammad Carr
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Muhammad Carr has dedicated his life to studying and transmitting our beautiful deen. His studies have taken him around the globe, where he has benefitted from many luminaries. Under the guidance of his teachers – Shaykh Taha Karan, Shaykh Yaseen Abbas, Shaykh Muadh Ali, and many others – Shaykh Muhammad has grown to appreciate the beauty and benefits of diverse scholarship. He completed his memorization of the Qur’an at Dar al-Ulum Zakariyyah in September 1997 and received an Alimiyya Degree in 2006 from DUAI (Darul Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah). He is affiliated with Masjid Auwal in Bo Kaap, Cape Town (the oldest mosque in South Africa), where he serves as a co-imam, and Dar Al-Safa, where he has taught since 2018. As a teacher, he imparts the wisdom of our heritage and tradition by opening the door to students. As an imam, he has the unique opportunity to serve his community daily.
In addition to his roles as a teacher and imam, Shaykh Muhammad Carr has contributed significantly to administrative and advisory aspects of Islamic institutions. Since 2023, he has been the Administrative Director at The Imam Kurani Institute, contributing to the institution’s growth and development. He continues to pursue traditional Islamic Sciences, possessing a keen interest in Islamic Contract Law and Finance. Shaykh Muhammad has been a Shari’ah Board Member for Islamic Asset Management & Insurance Companies since 2001, aligning financial practices with Islamic principles.
