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1185 When living in the UK and abiding by the law of the land, is declaring lower earning than you actually earn, to avoid paying higher taxes an act which is deemed Haraam?
In response to your question, I will simply state a few sayings of the Prophet (S.A.W) that will provide an insight into how Muslims should act according to Islam.

Firstly, our Beloved Messenger (S.A.W) asked us to refrain from doubtful matters and opt for choices that do not create uncertainty. (Sunan al-Nisai and Jami Tirmidhi)

Secondly, it is clear from one saying of the Prophet (S.A.W) that earnings made from illegitimate means results in a Muslims prayer not been answered.

Imam Muslim (R.A) records in his Sahih a Hadith narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira (R.A), where the Prophet (S.A.W) described ‘a man, who having journeyed afar, is disheveled and dusty and spreads out his hands to the sky [saying] O Lord! O Lord! - while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully. So how can his prayer be accepted?’

Avoiding the taxman may be considered the most important task on hand for most people, but for the true believer, the most important task is to ensure he is not consuming Haram wealth, and thus preventing his Duas being accepted by Allah (S.W.T).

Thirdly, Imam Nawawi (R.A) records in his ‘Forty Hadith’ a Hadith in which the Prophet (S.A.W) was asked to define righteousness and wrongdoing. He (S.A.W) said, ‘Righteousness is that about which the soul feels tranquil, and wrongdoing is that which results in unease in the soul and moves to and from in the chest, even if people decree to you in its favor repeatedly.’

In other words, any action that causes unease in the heart and mind is a clue that it is a wrongdoing. Clearly, people who indulge in such fraudulent practices are victims of such unease and uncertainty.

Such people should be reminded that escaping taxes and similar costs is easy. Escaping the wrath and anger of Allah (S.W.T) is much more difficult.

(Answered by: Imams at Islamic Centre, Leicester, UK)

(Verified by: Hafiz Mohammed Akhtar)
Category (Halal / Haram)
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