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Fatwa CenterImpermissibility to do any work relevant to usurpation
Question
In the name of Allaah the Most Merciful the ever Merciful.
I am a citizen in an Arab country. The state issued regulations that every citizen who owns an extra house must submit it to the state so that the state gives it to homeless people. The house is taken from its owner without his approval and without adequate compensation. The state is not doing so for economic reasons, but it is an attempt to apply the Socialist theory. The country is rich and there is no need to take houses from people in such a way. I am an employee in a public authority that supervises collecting rents from the inhabitants of those houses that were usurped by force of law. My question is:
Is the salary that I earn from this work lawful or unlawful? Is the state permitted to do so?
As-Salaamu ‘Alaykum
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
Islamic Sharee‘ah vehemently forbids the usurpation of people’s properties and taking them unjustly. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent.} [Quran 4:29]
Al-Jassaas 
said:
Consuming the wealth of people unjustly can be interpreted in two ways: first, it means taking it unjustly, stealing it, through deceit or usurpation and so forth. Second, it means taking it through unlawful means, such as gambling, earning it through singing, through the wages of one's slave songstress, through playing musical instruments, the wage of a hired female weeper, the price of wine, pork, selling a free person and having his price and having something that is unlawful for him to possess even if the owner agrees to transfer it to him. The Quranic verse included the prohibition of consuming the wealth of others by all these means.
The Prophet 
said: “He who unjustly took a span of land, Allaah shall make him carry around his neck seven earths on the day of Resurrection.” [Muslim]
During the Farewell Hajj, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Your blood and property are as inviolable to you as the inviolability of this day, this month and this land.” [Ahmad and Ibn Maajah] [Saheeh Hadeeth]
The prohibition of usurping the properties of others addresses individuals and rulers. It is even more stressed on the part of the rulers for the consequent deceit, injustice and oppression they afflict on their people.
Therefore, a Muslim must reject every judgment that is not made in accordance with the revelation of Allaah. He is also prohibited to assist those who do so by any means. Assisting them includes living in the houses that are usurped by them and working in collecting rents from their tenants. An employee who collects the rent is considered a deputy of the usurpers.
Allaah Knows best.
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