9817
50
02 / 07 / 2026
The Employee's Use of Their Position at Work for Referral and Brokerage
He is an engineer working at an engineering office, and if someone wants to build a house, they go to the municipality for the necessary permits and paperwork. Then, the municipality's surveyors direct this citizen to go to this engineering office to issue the engineering plan. Of course, the engineering office charges a fee for these plans. Then, the municipality's surveyor comes to this engineering office and says: I sent you a client to issue an engineering plan, so I want my commission because I referred him to you. The question is: Since this surveyor is an employee of the municipality, is it permissible for him to exploit his position to refer clients to the engineering office for personal gain? Is what he receives from the engineering office permissible for him or not? And if it is not permissible, does this office bear any sin for the commission it gives to that surveyor?
Answer
I say, and with God's guidance: It is forbidden for the municipal employee to engage in this transaction; because it falls under the category of bribery; as it directs the citizen to the office, which results in this employee assisting him in the transaction in the future. Therefore, it is not permissible for him to take a commission from the office, nor is it permissible for the office owner to pay it to the employee as well. And God knows best.
