Question Summary:
I have several questions about taxes, and how Muslims should act upon it?

Question Detail:

Assalamu'alaikum

Thank you so much for your previous answer because it really helps me alot. I'm in the beginning to study islam and trying to became a pious one. Please be patient with me since i had alot fo questions about the ruling of Islam.

I had several questions about taxes, about how we "muslims" should act upon it.

1. In my country tax id is obligatory for opening bank account. I've opened a bank account using my taxes id, i've used it for my business. Here for each year, we have to report our income to local government, if we are not do that, there are some penalty. But since this year i don't have any income i decided not to report my income to the government. I know the risks and i will pay the penalty later. But my question is, will this act renders my bank account haraam?

2. Is it a sin for me if i decided to delay our taxes payment and pay the extra penalty in the other day?

3. Are working in tax department (Internal Revenue Service) of our government in non-islamic country allowed?

4. What if i decided to not paying taxes by cheating, will this renders my business income haraam? How do i repent from that?

5. My government sending me letter to pay taxes, even though i already told them i don't have any income this year, so i decided to ignore it until i got some money, i will pay the taxes later if i can, is this act right or wrong?

6. If i decided to move to USA, well i have to pay taxes for the US government, now since we all know the US government has been responsible for killing so many innocent muslims. Does this mean if i pay taxes in the US i will go to hell because of supporting the killing against the innocents?

7. Can you explain to me what kind of taxes that is halal in Islam? As far as i know taxes is haraam according to Islam, but i've heard from someone that the Prophet used to asking taxes from non-muslims, is that true?

8. Can you give me any sources, informations, links (like books, website, or places) to study business in the way of Islam? I'm trying to do my business 100% based on the ruling of Islam but i didn't know where to start, Al Quran and Al Hadith is too broad and complicated for me.

Please guide me to the right way.

Thank you very much for your guide and i pray for the best for you.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

We apologise for the late response. It is pleasing to note that you are benefiting from our website. May Allah Subhānahu Wa Ta’āla keep you steadfast in Deen. Aameen

You have sent 8 issues. We have to attend many other queries. We take three questions in one email. We will respond to three queries in this email. You may resend the remaining queries later.

1, 2. Muslim citizens residing in non-Muslim countries should abide by the rules and laws of their respective countries. [1]  If you are required to inform the government of your income and pay taxes on time, then you should do so. You should not unnecessarily delay paying taxes. If you are unable to pay the taxes for any financial reasons, and you are firm on your intention that you will pay the taxes later, then you will not be sinful as your intention is correct.

Our advice is that you should consider consulting a tax consultant who has the expertise to use the law to one’s advantage, and seek his guidance on how to overcome this difficulty. You may adopt all legal avenues to do so without resorting to lies and deception, lying and cheating absolutely haram in Islam whether with Muslim or non-Muslim. [2]

8. You may refer to the following link for brief understanding in Islamic finance and Business. “An Introduction to Islamic Finance” written by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani

(مدّ ظله العالية).

http://daruliftaa.net/~dar60/index.php/resources/publications/finish/27%20publications/279-an-introduction-to-islamic-finance-mufti-taqi-usmani

You may also listen discourses on Kitabul Buyoo from Bukhari Shareef of my Muhtaram (honorable) teacher Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb through the following link.  

http://daruliftaa.net/index.php/resources/downloads/viewcategory/87-discourses-on-kitabul-buyoo

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Rabiul Islam

Student Darul Iftaa
Detroit, Michigan, USA 

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

[1] {يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ} [المائدة: 1]

{وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ إِذَا عَاهَدْتُمْ وَلَا تَنْقُضُوا الْأَيْمَانَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ} [النحل: 91]

صحيح البخاري (4/49-50 م: دار طوق النجاة)

باب السمع والطاعة للإمام.

2955 - حدثنا مسدد، حدثنا يحيى، عن عبيد الله، قال: حدثني نافع، عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، ح وحدثني محمد بن صباح، حدثنا إسماعيل بن زكرياء، عن عبيد الله، عن نافع، عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: «السمع والطاعة حق ما لم يؤمر بالمعصية، فإذا أمر بمعصية، فلا سمع ولا طاعة»

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (4/ 263 م: دار الفكر-بيروت) ابن عابدين، محمد أمين بن عمر بن عبد العزيز عابدين الدمشقي الحنفي (المتوفى: 1252هـ)

وتجب طاعة الإمام عادلا كان أو جائرا إذا لم يخالف الشرع.

احسن الفتاوی (جلد: 8 ص:217 م: ایچ ایم سعید کمپنی) فقیہ العصر مفتی اعظم حضرت مفتی رشید احمد احمد صاحب (دامت برکاتہم)

مباحات میں حکومت کی اطاعت واجب ہے…

امور مباحہ میں حکومت کے قانون کی خلاف ورزی سخت گناہ ہے۔

[2]   المبسوط للسرخسي (30/ 211 م: دار المعرفة - بيروت) محمد بن أحمد بن أبي سهل شمس الأئمة السرخسي (المتوفى: 483هـ)

الكذب حرام لا رخصة فيه، والذي يروي حديث عقبة بن أبي معيط - رضي الله عنه - «أن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - رخص في الكذب في ثلاثة مواضع في الرجل يصلح بين الناس، والرجل يكذب لامرأته والكذب في الحرب» تأويله في استعمال معاريض الرجال الكلام فإن صريح الكذب لا يحل هنا كما لا يحل في غيره من المواضع.

والذي يروى أن الخليل - عليه السلام - كذب ثلاث كذبات إن صح، فتأويل هذا: أنه ذكر كلاما عرض فيه ما خفي عن السامع مراده، وأضمر في قلبه خلاف ما أظهره فأما الكذب المحض من جملة الكبائر، والأنبياء - عليهم السلام - كانوا معصومين عن ذلك ومن جوز عليهم الكذب فقد أبطل الشرائع.

سنن الترمذي ت بشار (2/ 597 م: دار الغرب الإسلامي - بيروت)

12 - أَبْوَابُ الْبُيُوعِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. 74 - بَابُ مَا جَاءَ فِي كَرَاهِيَةِ الغِشِّ فِي البُيُوعِ

1315 - حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنِ العَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَرَّ عَلَى صُبْرَةٍ مِنْ طَعَامٍ، فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فِيهَا، فَنَالَتْ أَصَابِعُهُ بَلَلاً، فَقَالَ: يَا صَاحِبَ الطَّعَامِ، مَا هَذَا؟، قَالَ: أَصَابَتْهُ السَّمَاءُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، قَالَ: أَفَلاَ جَعَلْتَهُ فَوْقَ الطَّعَامِ حَتَّى يَرَاهُ النَّاسُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: مَنْ غَشَّ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا.