Question :
We work for freight-forwarding companies in return for salaries. We are entrusted with delivering customs paperwork, after finishing all procedures, to truck drivers without any delays. However, a group of people has established around the clock service offices that receive paperwork from clearance staff and deliver it to truck drivers, after finishing all procedures, in return for one JD as a fee. Not only that but also some offices even grant a percentage of their profits to clearance staff as an encouragement to deal with them. Is it permissible to impose this fee on truck drivers although the clearance employee is responsible for securing and delivering the paperwork to the driver once it is finished?
The Answer :
All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
Handing the customs paperwork to truck drivers is the responsibility of freight-forwarding companies` staff, as you (Asker) have mentioned in above. Therefore, We (Iftaa` Department) are of the view that it isn`t permissible to impose any fees on the truck driver in return for delivering the paperwork to him, after finishing all procedures, as fast as possible. It is also impermissible to grant offers to clearance staff at the expense of the drivers. In addition, it isn`t permissible for the clearance offices to take any percentage from the profits that public service offices take from drivers. This is because delivering the customs paperwork is among the responsibilities of the freight-forwarding companies and not the public service offices. However, seeking to collect those fees could open the door for cheating and negligence as far as finishing paperwork is concerned although the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "He who takes up arms against us is none of us; and he who cheats us is none of us." {Related by Muslim}. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best
