Ruling on an employee and agent of the company owner taking a commission on sales

Question: 4048

I work as an employee in a company and
the owner of the company asked me to sell some land he owns that has nothing to do with
the work of the company. I showed it to a number of landlords and real estate agents until
I got a good offer and the sale was completed. The purchaser offered me a sum of money. Is
it permissible for me to take it in return for acting as a middleman?

Answer

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

We put this question to Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, who replied:

What was offered to him?

We said: he was told, “You have put a lot of effort into this, so you deserve a reward.”

The Shaykh asked: Was this before the sale or afterwards?

We said: After the sale.

The Shaykh said: there is nothing wrong with it and there is no sin on him.

We said: And if it was before the sale?

The Shaykh said: That would not be permissible because then he may try to do the purchaser a favour.

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