Avoiding Haram Sources of Income: What Islam Says About Unlawful Earnings
Islam has established rules and regulations for earning a livelihood. A person is not free to acquire wealth however they please, filling their treasury while others are left behind or suffer losses. Rather, every individual has been granted the right to strive for a livelihood, but only through lawful means. This means that a person should avoid methods involving deceit, fraud, interest (Riba), loss, bribery, black market dealings, gambling, unlawful activities, or dishonesty. At the same time, two things must always be kept in mind: first, if the source of income is lawful, no profession or work should be considered inferior; and second, one should rely fully on Allah for their sustenance and struggle to earn a livelihood through lawful means, without greed for worldly wealth. The primary reason for adopting unlawful means of earning is usually greed for wealth.
With these principles in mind, let’s now review the sources of income that go against the Islamic economic system.
Usurious Business (Riba):
Riba (interest) is absolutely forbidden in Islam. The Quran has condemned it in such a severe way that no other sin is described with such a degree of seriousness. Even for sins like drinking alcohol, eating pork, committing adultery, or fornication, the Quran does not issue such a harsh warning as it does for Riba.
Allah Almighty says:
یَا أَیُّہَا الَّذِیْنَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ وَذَرُوْا مَا بَقِیَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِنْ کُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِیْنَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوْا فَأْذَنُوْا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللّٰہِ وَرَسُولِہِ (Surah Al-Baqarah: 278/279)
Translation: O you who have believed, fear Allah and abandon what remains of interest (Riba) if you are believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a war (from Allah and His Messenger).
In the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, Sunan Darqutni, Mishkat al-Masabih, and Zujajah al-Masabih, a hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Hanzala (may Allah be pleased with him) states:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّہِ بْنِ حَنْظَلَۃَ غَسِیلِ الْمَلَائِکَۃِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّہِ صَلَّی اللَّہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ دِرْہَمٌ رِبًا یَأْکُلُہُ الرَّجُلُ وَہُوَ یَعْلَمُ أَشَدُّ مِنْ سِتَّۃٍ وَثَلَاثِینَ زَنْیَۃً
Translation: Abdullah ibn Hanzala (may Allah be pleased with him), whose father was Hanzala, the one washed by the angels, narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “A dirham of interest that a person consumes knowingly is worse than thirty-six acts of fornication.”
The chain of this narration has been declared authentic by Sheikh Albani (Takhreej Mishkat al-Masabih: 2754).
Therefore, believers must stay away from any profession that involves Riba. Assisting someone in a usurious business is as sinful as being involved in the usurious transaction itself. Therefore, any kind of cooperation in Riba is prohibited.
Gambling (Maysir):
Gambling is a despicable activity where one party suffers a great loss while the other gains wealth without any effort. People often lose everything, including their money, possessions, homes, and even their wives, leading to embarrassment and regret. If they experienced this shame early on, they might avoid gambling altogether. Gambling is an addictive habit, almost like a drug, which continues to tempt until it ruins the person. It is a form of deception and fraud, both of which are forbidden in Islam, and gambling itself is unequivocally prohibited.
Allah Almighty says:
یا اَیُّہَا الَّذِیْنَ آمَنُوا اِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَیْسِرُ وَالْاَنْصَابُ وَالْاَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّیْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوہُ لَعَلَّکُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَ (Al-Ma’idah: 90)
Translation: O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.
The reasons for the prohibition of gambling are as follows:
- Islam encourages Muslims to follow the laws of Allah in acquiring wealth, relying on effort and lawful means to achieve results. Gambling, which relies on luck and chance, teaches people to trust in fate, whereas Islam teaches that one should depend on action and the causes created by Allah and commanded by Him.
- Islam regards a person’s wealth as sacred, and it should only be acquired through lawful means, either through a valid trade or voluntary giving (charity or gifts). Earning through gambling is akin to consuming wealth unlawfully.
- Gambling creates enmity and hatred between people, even though they may pretend to be friends. The interaction between the winner and the loser is always one of dominance and submission, and the loser often remains silently filled with resentment after their loss.
- After losing, the loser often returns to gambling, hoping to recover their losses, while the winner is encouraged to gamble again for more gain.
- Thus, gambling not only endangers individuals but also threatens society by promoting the destruction of effort and energy, and it leads to neglect of responsibilities toward one’s family, self, and community.
Gambling causes people to abandon their responsibilities, including their religious duties and family obligations. Those who gamble may even end up selling their honor, dignity, and integrity for their own selfish gain.
Lottery is also a form of gambling, and some people mistakenly deem it necessary or permissible. However, this is a serious mistake. It is undeniable that lottery is a type of gambling, and since it is established that lottery is a form of gambling, its prohibition is indisputable. Any wealth earned through lottery is unlawful, and it cannot save a person from Allah’s wrath.
Engaging in the Liquor Business:
Alcohol has been called “the mother of all evils” because a person under its influence can commit any crime, including adultery, robbery, and even suicide. A well-known incident mentions that a person was given a choice between three actions: either to drink alcohol, commit adultery, or kill a person. He chose to drink alcohol, and in his intoxicated state, he committed adultery and killed someone. This is a reality, as alcohol opens the door to many other evils, and it also causes numerous diseases. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) declared alcohol to be forbidden by Allah:
كلُّ مُسكِرٍ خَمرٌ . وَكُلُّ مُسكِرٍ حَرامٌ (Sahih Muslim: 2003)
Translation: Every intoxicant is Khamr (alcohol), and every intoxicant is forbidden.
إِنَّ اللهَ حَرَّمَ الخمرَ ، و حَرَّمَ المَيْتَةَ و ثمنَها ، و حَرَّمَ الخِنْزِيرَ و ثَمَنَهُ (Sahih al-Jami: 1746)
Translation: Allah has made alcohol forbidden, as well as carrion and its price, and pork and its price.
لَعَنَ اللهُ الخمرَ ، وشارِبَها ، وساقِيَها ، وبائِعَها ، و مُبْتَاعَهَا ، وعاصرَهَا ، ومُعْتَصِرَها ، وحامِلَها ، و المحمولَةَ إليهِ ، وآكِلَ ثَمَنِها (Sahih al-Jami: 5091)
Translation: Allah has cursed alcohol, those who drink it, serve it, squeeze it, buy it, sell it, carry it, transport it, and consume its price.
Drinking alcohol not only leads to many moral and spiritual harms in Islam, but it also causes numerous physical health issues. These include the loss of work capacity and competence, deteriorating financial conditions, rapid heart rate, heart failure, loss of consciousness, panic, increased family disputes, heart diseases, and even cancer.
Engaging in the Profession of Adultery:
Adultery is a heinous act, and Islam has declared it unlawful and forbidden. Whoever commits this act will face punishment according to Islamic law. If the person is married, they will be stoned to death, and if they are unmarried, they will receive a hundred lashes and be exiled for a year. This is the command of the Quran:
الزانیۃ والزانی فاجلدوا کل واحد منھما مائۃ جلدة (An-Nur: 2)
Translation: The adulterous woman and the adulterous man, flog each one of them with one hundred lashes.
In another verse, the Quran warns against approaching adultery:
ولاتقربوا الزنی فانہ کان فاحشۃ وساء سبیلا (Al-Isra: 32)
Translation: Do not come near adultery, for it is an immoral act and an evil way.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) also condemned this sin:
إذا زنى الرجلُ خَرَجَ منه الإيمان ُ، كان عليه كالظُّلَّةِ ، فإذا انقَطَعَ رَجَعَ إليه الإيمانُ (Sahih Abu Dawood: 4690)
Translation: When a man commits adultery, his faith departs from him, and it is like a shadow over him. When he refrains from it, his faith returns to him.
Today, some places operate like licensed brothels, generating huge amounts of money. I advise Muslims to stay away from this grave and abominable sin. Just as adultery ruins both this world and the Hereafter, so too will the earnings from this sinful profession ruin both worlds.
Usurping the Property of Orphans:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) emphasized the proper care and upbringing of orphans, and promised paradise to those who take good care of them. At the same time, he warned against those who try to unlawfully take the property of orphans, dispossessing them and depriving them of their homes. Allah has explicitly forbidden this:
ولاتقربوا مال الیتیم الابالتی ھی احسن حتی یبلغ اشدہ (Al-An’am: 152)
Translation: And do not approach the property of the orphan except in a way that is best, until he reaches maturity.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
أنا وَكافلُ اليتيمِ في الجنَّةِ هَكَذا . وأشارَ بالسَّبَّابةِ والوُسطى ، وفرَّجَ بينَهما شيئًا (Sahih al-Bukhari: 5304)
Translation: I and the one who takes care of an orphan will be like this in paradise, and he indicated with his index and middle fingers, separating them slightly.
Engaging in Bribery:
Bribery occurs when money is offered to an influential person or a government official to make a decision in favor of the briber or against their competitor, or to delay the work of their rival. This is also a form of unlawful earning. The Quran mentions:
ولاتأکلوا اموالکم بینکم بالباطل وتدلوابھا الی الحکام لتاکلوا فريقًا من اموال الناس بالاثم وانتم تعلمون (Al-Baqarah: 188)
Translation: And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that they might aid you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لعنَ رسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللَّهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ الرَّاشي والمُرْتَشي في الحكمِ (Sahih al-Tirmidhi: 1336)
Translation: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed the one who gives a bribe and the one who accepts it in matters of judgment.
There is no doubt about the prohibition of bribery in light of the Quran and Hadith. The problem with bribery is that it causes unjust delays in work, with the later party being prioritized over the one who was initially supposed to be served, leading to disputes between the parties. If there was already tension, it deepens the conflict further.
Some people attempt to disguise bribery as a gift, claiming that it is not bribery but rather a “gift,” and Islam allows the giving of gifts freely. This is a deceptive tactic, and it harms Islamic teachings. Changing the name of bribery to a gift does not make it permissible. If someone drinks poison thinking it is sweet, it will not become sweet, and their death is not guaranteed to be avoided.
Embezzling Wealth:
Engaging in dishonesty and taking someone’s wealth to increase one’s own livelihood is forbidden. Both the Quran and Hadith have condemned this act. The Quran states:
فان امن بعضکم بعضافلیؤد الّذی أوتمن امانتہ ولیتق اللہ ربه (Al-Baqarah: 283)
Translation: If one of you entrusts another with something, let the one who is entrusted return the trust and fear Allah, his Lord.
The Quran also states:
ومن یغلل یات بماغل یوم القیامۃ ثم توفی کل نفس ماکسبت (Aal-Imran: 161)
Translation: And whoever commits treachery will bring what they took on the Day of Judgment, and every soul will be compensated for what it earned.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) condemned treachery, stating:
آيةُ المنافقِ ثلاثٌ : إذا حدَّثَ كذبَ ، وإذا وعَدَ أخلفَ ، وإذا اؤتُمِنَ خان (Sahih al-Bukhari: 33)
Translation: The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks his promise; and when he is entrusted, he betrays that trust.
Another hadith states:
منِ استعملناهُ على عملٍ فرزقناهُ رزقًا فما أخذَ بعدَ ذلِكَ فَهوَ غُلولٌ (Sahih Abu Dawood: 2943)
Translation: Whoever we appoint for a task and provide for their livelihood, anything they take after that is embezzlement.
The consequences of embezzlement are clear and do not need further explanation.
Stealing:
It is also an incorrect way to earn a living by breaking into someone’s house and seizing their property, or by taking advantage of the darkness of the night to rob people. Such a person is considered a criminal in Islam, and the punishment is applied to them.
Allah the Almighty says:
وَالسَّارِقُ وَالسَّارِقَةُ فَاقْطَعُوا أَيْدِيَهُمَا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَسَبَا نَكَالًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ (المائدة: 38)
Translation: As for the male thief and the female thief, amputate their hands as a punishment for what they have committed, as a deterrent from Allah, and Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
The Hadith of the Messenger ﷺ clearly states that the hand should be cut off from the wrist. The Prophet ﷺ was very strict about this because stealing is one thing, but making theft a profession is even more dangerous. Whoever turns robbery or piracy into their trade, there is no hope of any good from them. The Prophet ﷺ said:
وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ! لَوْ أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ مُحَمَّدٍ سَرَقَتْ لَقَطَعْتُ يَدَهَا (صحيح مسلم: 1688)
Translation: By Him in Whose hand my soul is, if my daughter Fatimah had stolen, I would have cut off her hand.
If a person knows that something is stolen property and then buys it, such a person will also be guilty. Therefore, one should not knowingly purchase stolen goods.
Pursuing a Profession in Dance and Music:
In the present time, a common method of earning money is by organizing gatherings of dance and music, where they cater to people’s sexual desires, engage in inappropriate behavior, and attempt to attract attention through provocative acting.
Ironically, this is referred to as “art,” and it is a disgrace for those people who consider destructive social elements as integral to progress.
In this profession, both immoral women and degraded individuals are involved, with women being in the majority. The reason for the abundance of women is also clear. The Quran forbids even approaching such activities, let alone making them a livelihood:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ (لقمان: 6)
Translation: And of mankind are some who purchase idle talks to mislead others from the path of Allah without knowledge, and make a mockery of it. For them it is a humiliating punishment.
Imam al-Tabari explains that “idle talk” refers to music, dance, and any entertainment that leads people astray.
In the commentary of “Junaid al-Ghidi,” it is stated that “idle talk” refers to playing music, its instruments, and anything that diverts people from righteousness and the known path. This includes dancing, stories, novels, plays, sexual literature, magazines, and newspapers promoting immorality, as well as modern inventions like radio, TV, VCRs, and video films. He further writes: “In the time of the Prophet, some people used to buy singing and dancing girls to entertain others so they would be distracted from the Quran and Islam. Thus, singers today, who are called artists, film stars, cultural ambassadors, and various other seemingly civilized and glamorous names, also fall under this category.”
Another verse of the Quran says:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَنْ تَشِيعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ (النور: 19)
Translation: Those who love to see immorality spread among the believers, for them is a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter, and Allah knows, while you do not know.
In this verse, “immorality” refers to what is meant by “idle talk” in the earlier verse.
Inflating Prices to Sell Goods:
It is also a wrong way of earning a living for a merchant to wait for prices to rise in the market and then bring goods from his store to sell. Regarding such people, a Hadith states that they are sinful. The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَا يَحْتَكِرُ إِلَّا خَاطِئٌ (صحيح مسلم: 1605)
Translation: Only the sinful person hoards.
The person who imports goods to the market is blessed with sustenance, while the one who hoards is deprived of sustenance and its blessings. No matter how big a merchant is, he cannot say that his provision is in his hands. If Allah wills, the customer will reach the shop on their own; if Allah does not will it, the merchant cannot bring the customer to his store. When it is established that Allah alone is the provider, no one else has the power to give sustenance, then the merchant must deal with honesty in business. By being honest, Allah’s pleasure is attained, and the merchant will gain a reputation for honesty among the buyers, which will have a positive effect, and the goods will sell in larger quantities. With this, waiting for prices to rise and hoarding goods, forcing the needy to suffer, especially the poor and desperate members of society, is neither wise nor acceptable. Islam has presented the best way.
The Harmful Effects of Earning Through Forbidden Means:
As soon as the path of economic pursuit becomes crooked, complications begin to arise in the economy, leading to moral decline, social issues, and the undermining of Islamic economic wisdom and strategy. The entire society falls into the deep pit of misguidance. Reflect on the further damages and lethal effects:
(1) Those who adopt false means to earn a living ruin both their faith and worldly life, and their final destination is Hell.
(2) The number of thieves and robbers increases in society, and the courage of thieves grows.
(3) Even someone who has never stolen before finds the temptation to steal emerging within them.
(4) Some professions lead to multiple diseases that are like a lethal poison for a person.
(5) Earning money through forbidden means is, in fact, equivalent to wasting wealth, as in return a person ruins their Hereafter.
(6) Disorder spreads in the market, and the entire system becomes chaotic.
(7) Fornication is already the worst trait, and it leads to the destruction of the human race; its effects on families are also harmful.
(8) In trade, mutual resentment, hatred, and permanent enmity arise between the two parties involved.
(9) Corrupt elements spread throughout society and are given the best opportunity to thrive.
(10) The standard of what is lawful and unlawful disappears, and people pursue livelihood without distinction.
(11) Sexual desires rise, and the righteous individuals are profoundly affected by this, which even wipes out their faith and identity.
(12) It creates a major obstacle in the promotion and dissemination of Islamic teachings.
The Ruling on Wealth Earned Through Forbidden Means:
A large majority of people are involved in earning through forbidden means, and the horrific effects of this are evident on society and the community. The question arises: if someone has wealth earned through forbidden means and realizes their mistake, what should they do?
If a Muslim feels remorse for their actions, Allah forgives their sins, except for those related to the rights of others (حقوق العباد). If we have wronged someone through deceit, theft, bribery, or any other method, it is essential not only to repent but also to fulfill the rights of others. After fulfilling the rights of others, any money left over from the forbidden earnings should be given as charity to the needy. If the person has bought goods or built a house with this forbidden money, they should sell it and give the proceeds as charity, unless they themselves are in dire need of that item.
We ask Allah to protect us from earning through forbidden means and grant us the ability to earn lawful sustenance. Ameen.
By MAQUBOOL AHMAD SALAFI