Shar‘i Ruling on Salary Deductions and Receiving Additional Amounts✍ Answered by: Shaykh Khidr Ḥayāt ḥafiẓahullāh
Question:
Is it permissible to accept additional amounts paid by institutions like Shaukat Khanum Hospital after salary deductions?
Answer:
Issuing a definitive Shar‘i ruling on this issue is not possible without knowing the exact operational details of the system. However, there are two possible scenarios:
① If Additional Amount Is Not Interest-Based
✔ If the hospital deducts a portion of the salary each month, and later adds some extra amount from its own side (e.g., as a bonus or benefit), and then returns it at the end of the year:
➤ This is permissible in Sharīʿah.
✔ It is considered a staff welfare policy or incentive, not riba (interest).
② If the Additional Amount Involves Interest
✘ If the hospital adds extra money to the deducted amount based on a fixed percentage, calculation, or interest formula, then:
➤ This would be riba (interest), which is strictly prohibited in Islam.
✔ In such a case, accepting the additional amount is impermissible.
Example: GP Fund (General Provident Fund)
✔ The GP Fund system for government employees functions similarly:
– A fixed amount is deducted from the salary,
– Upon retirement, an additional interest-based amount is returned.
✘ Scholars have declared this arrangement impermissible due to the involvement of riba.
Conclusion:
✔ To determine the Shar‘i status, it is essential to know the exact mechanism of deduction and return.
➤ If no interest is involved, accepting the additional amount is permissible.
➤ If interest is involved, accepting the additional amount is not permissible.
