He Had Gotten a Job Illegally and Earned Some Money from It

13-7-2025 | IslamWeb

Question:

I started a job where I had someone else sit in the interview process pretending to be me. I got the offer and started doing some training and did the job for 3 months. I was caught get help from an outside person on the job and I got fired. The money I earned from that job I used it in a halal business. I make profit with the halal business. Can I keep the profits to myself or do I have to give them 50% of it or how would it work it? Jazakallah hu Khairan

---

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

What is obligatory upon you is to repent to Allah Almighty for the deception and dishonesty you committed. This includes seeking forgiveness, feeling remorse, and firmly resolving not to return to such behavior.

As for the salaries you received - whether it is permissible for you to benefit from them or whether you must return them, either fully or partially – that ruling depends on the reality of your work in the company: Did you perform your duties as required? How much did that person’s assistance affect your performance? Did your employers know what you had done and still agree to pay you, or were they unaware of that?

All of these factors influence the ruling, and we cannot assume scenarios and issue rulings based on possibilities that may not even exist, as that would further complicate the matter.

Therefore, our advice to you is to consult a knowledgeable scholar in person and present your case to him.

Allah knows best.