BISMILLAH Janaab Mufti Saheb, Assalam o alaikum In my business I have to buy materials from suppliers . They take a 3-5% commission for there help in getting the materials to me. As they are using their contacts and goodwill to procure materials for me. In fact they are taking this amount from the raw material manufacturer as the amount is added into my price. Can I buy the materials from the suppliers without doing a GUNAAH in the light of the SHARIAT ? WILL MY EARNED MONEY BE HALAL ! If it is GUNAAH in the light of SHARIAH then I will have to buy the material direct from the manufacturer , but will it not amount to BREACH OF TRUST ON MY PART BECAUSE THESE SUPPLIERS HAVE HELPED ME ESTABLISH MY BUSINESS and Now when I leave them ( because I can now finance my business without their help ) will it not be wrong on my PART IN THE LIGHT OF THE SHARIAT ? Jazak ALLAH O KHAIR for helping me. Wassalam
Answer
(Fatwa: 99/846=/1429)
In the abovementioned case, the supplier is like agent and an agent can take the charges of his work, but this charge should be fixed, whether by e.g. 100 and 50 or in form of percentage. You are allowed to take help from them; also it is right to work without their help.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband