Assalamu alaikum w w Respected brothers we have a small flour mill at village . My father has been running it for the past 4 years but now a problem has raised . villagers bring their corns (the seeds of) plants, such as wheat , maize and we grind them . It is our job but before grinding them we take some of their corns as a living which we have fixed for one KG and for two KG etc and after taking some of thier corns we grind them but if the owners tell us that they will give us money then we don’t take some of their corns but instead of taking corns we take money from them now imam of a mosque at our village says that the corns we take is (Haram) he gave us an example ” if he hires a person to bring his luggage to home so after completing the work he will give him his money which is fixed by them he told us that we shouldn’t take their corns unless we grind them and after grinding their corns if we take some of their flour or money is valid it depends on the owners if they give us money or some of their flour tell me what should we do is it (Haram) what way should we adopt and if it is (Haram) we have been running our flour mill for 4 years now should we do penance and how much and what should we give as a penance please reply me with a comprehensive details and tell me how to run the flour mill from now on we will be grateful to u.
Answer:
(Fatwa: 37/50=H/1429)
As per the Shariah, there is no wrong if you or your father receives, before grinding, the grinding charge in form of corn or wheat the quantity of which is mutually agreed upon between you clearly, this transaction is absolutely lawful. And, even it is also lawful if you decide to receive the charge in form of cash instead of taking the corn or wheat. You can choose whatever of the two forms see better with a condition that it is mutually agreed upon, your grinding work will remain halal and income earned out of it shall be lawful.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband