Is It Permissible to Accept a Raise Based on Appraisal Ratings Even If You Do Not Deserve It?


Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

If a person gets a 5 Star annual performance rating and promotion by a company manager based on some criteria that the person is not very sure of, is it permissible for him to accept that rating and the respective increment in his salary provided he tried to deliver all the required tasks in scheduled time?

Sometimes, the person feels unmotivated to work due to various mental health problems, so he tries to stay at work but fails. The person works from home, so sometimes it becomes unavoidable to do some household work during office hours. He feels bad but fails to commit 100%. Managers need to learn this, and it’s wondering if being at work all the time is a criterion for the hike. What should the person do? Confessing might have an adverse effect.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question and for seeking guidance.

It is highly laudable that you are approaching your increased salary undeserving of it. It is undoubtedly based on your overall work, honesty, and completion of required tasks. Accept the salary and just carry on working as normal. Managers probably do take into consideration some unavoidable household chores. So, only worry once you are specifically told to do so.

Best Earning is an Honest Sale and Hard Work

Hani ibn Niyar (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was asked, “What is the best earning?” The Prophet said, “It is an honest sale or a man’s work with his hands.” [Ahmad]

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction, in sha’ Allah.

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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.