A driver carrying paying passengers for himself during work

A question about an organisation's driver sent on a job outside it who carried people for a fare for his own benefit, in which Jordan's General Iftaa Department answered that what he earned with the organisation's car without permission is unlawful gain to be returned, and that if he used his own car during working hours he must calculate the matching share of his salary and give it in charity. ¹

The questioner said a driver employed by an organisation was asked to do a job outside it and, while doing so, carried some people for a fare for his own benefit; he asked whether the money he took is lawful or forbidden. ¹

The Department answered that an employee is a hired worker entrusted with what is in his hands, and trust requires that he take no benefit for himself beyond what he contracted for with his employer; it quoted al-Qurtubi's commentary that trust covers all religious duties. ¹ It said that if he used the organisation's car, this is allowed only under its rules or with its explicit permission, and what he earned from unauthorised use is unlawful gain that must be returned to the employer, or given in charity if it cannot be returned. ¹ If he used his own car, he must keep the rules on such use, and he may not use working hours for private purposes; if he did, he must calculate the part of his salary matching the hours he spent on his own work and give it in charity, since he used work time for personal profit. ¹

Jordan's General Iftaa Department published this fatwa on aliftaa.jo as no. 3882, dated 28 May 2024. ¹ The museum records this text as a historical document attributed to the body or scholar that issued it; it issues no ruling of its own.