Q : Can I pay a fixed fee for a service which may depend on a variable like the weather eg. pay someone $100 to shovel my driveway for the whole winter season? If it snows less, he benefits but if it snows more, I benefit.

[Daruliftaa.Camperdown]

Question

Can I pay a fixed fee for a service which may depend on a variable like the weather eg. pay someone $100 to shovel my driveway for the whole winter season?  If it snows less, he benefits but if it snows more, I benefit.

 

 

Answer

 

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

 

It is permissible to pay a fixed fee for a service which may depend on an unpredictable variable such as the weather. However, this fee must be paid for the service of the hired individual and not his time.  

 

(Ahsan ul-Fatawa, 7/ 314-315, Saeed)

  إذا استأجر رجلا ليعمل له عملا اليوم إلى الليل بدرهم صباغة أو خبزا أو غير ذلك فالإجارة فاسدة في قول أبي حنيفة رحمه الله تعالى وفي قولهما يجوز استحسانا ويكون العقد على العمل دون اليوم حتى إذا فرغ منه نصف النهار فله الأجر كاملا وإن لم يفرغ في اليوم فله أن يعمله في الغد...
(الفتاوى العالمكيرية، 4/ 477، العلمية)

 

And Allah knows best

Wassalaamu `alaykum

Ml. Sajid bin Shabbir,
Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah

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