Can I pay a fixed fee for a service which may depend on a variable like the weather eg. pay someone $100 to shovel my driveway for the whole winter season?If it snows less, he benefits but if it snows more, I benefit.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
It is permissible to pay a fixed fee for a service which may depend on an unpredictable variable such as the weather. However, this fee must be paid for the service of the hired individual and not his time.
(Ahsan ul-Fatawa, 7/ 314-315, Saeed)
إذااستأجررجلاليعمللهعملااليومإلىالليلبدرهمصباغةأوخبزاأوغيرذلكفالإجارةفاسدةفيقولأبيحنيفةرحمهاللهتعالىوفيقولهمايجوزاستحساناويكونالعقدعلىالعملدوناليومحتىإذافرغمنهنصفالنهارفلهالأجركاملاوإنلميفرغفياليومفلهأنيعملهفيالغد…
(الفتاوىالعالمكيرية، 4/ 477،العلمية)
And Allah knows best
Wassalaamu `alaykum
Ml. Sajid bin Shabbir,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah