Date : 30-05-2012

Question :

What is the ruling on paying fees by installments in return for recruiting a foreign maid, taking into consideration that these fees are interest-free and no addition is charged when they are paid by installments?


The Answer :

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.


 


Paying the aforementioned fees by installments is permissible, because this case has the same ruling of installment sale, which jurists have permitted so long as the date and the installments are known for both parties.


In this regard, Aisha(May Allah be pleases with her) narrated (What means): "Allah's Messenger (PBUH) bought some foodstuff (barley) from a Jew on credit and mortgaged his iron armor to him (the armor stands for a guarantor). [Bukhari].


Furthermore, An-Nawawi stated in his book [Rawdat At-Talibin vol.3, pp.397]: "If a person said to someone: "I will sell you this item in addition to the other one and the payment will be due on this date or a known date, then the contract is valid." 


In conclusion, paying the aforementioned fees by installments is valid if the date and the amount are known at the time of concluding the contract. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.