Is My Salary Permissible if My Salary is High and Disproportionate to My Work?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I work for an NGO that works specifically to provide medical aid to those in need as a Data entry operator.
Right now, I work 24 hours a week and get a salary. I have been asking my manager to increase my responsibilities so that my salary would also increase. My manager did provide me with extra work and increased my working hours to 48 hours so that I get double my initial salary.
But the work he has given me is too little, and the pay increase is too much.
As such, the money comes from public donations, and the person giving me this extra role has the authority to do so, but he doesn’t own the money. So, I want to know whether accepting this additional responsibility and getting paid in excess will be halal or haram.
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. Allah Most High reward you for your honesty.
You have asked for extra work and a salary increase, and your employer has given you extra hours and work. However, you think the salary is high and not proportional to the work. What you can do is either accept it, as this is your good thinking, and maybe you are good at work of data entry, or you can request him to rethink your salary and pay what you think is reasonable for you.
Best Earnings are With Honesty
Hani’ ibn Niyar (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was asked, “What are the best earnings?” The Prophet said, “It is an honest sale or a man’s work with his hands.” [Musnad Ahmad]
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.
Related
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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.
