Accepting Wealth from a Person Whose Wealth is Predominantly Unlawful

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: What are the different types of haram incomes? What kind of money would be deemed haram? And is it okay to accept a gift/money that came from a haram source if you have an intention of donating it?
Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
No, you cannot accept wealth from a person whose wealth is predominantly unlawful.
The basis in transactions is the word of Allah Most High, “You who believe, do not wrongfully consume each other’s wealth but trade by mutual consent.” [4.29]
The Ottoman Qur’anic exegete Abu al-Su`ud Effendi clarified that “wrongfully” means anything that is contrary to the Sacred Law, whether that is by way of stealing, misappropriating, deceiving, gambling, engaging in usurious dealings, or anything else the Sacred Law prohibited.
Have a good opinion of people, don’t investigate, and act on the basis of the apparent. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “From a person’s Islam being good is his leaving what does not concern him.” [Tirmidhi]
Please see: Can I Borrow Money From Someone Whose Income Comes From an Unlawful Source? and: What is the Ruling on Receiving Things From Others That Were Acquired With Unlawful Money? and: Surfing the Internet and Checking Personal Emails at Work
And Allah alone gives success.
wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani