Are Public Sector Salaries Halal? Islamic Perspective on State Income and Lawful Earnings
Are government salaries halal in Islam? Is it permissible to receive income from the state if public revenues include taxes or mixed sources? This article examines the Islamic ruling on public sector salaries, state treasury income, taxation, and dealing with unjust rulers according to classical Islamic scholarship. When receiving salaries and donations from the state, the following points must be considered and evaluated: Where did this property come from and how did it come into the hands of the state, and is the state entitled to receive it? We will examine these two points under two subheadings. The state’s revenues are as follows: 1- Spoils of war, fey’, jizya revenues, and goods obtained through peace treaties from non-Muslims; 2- Inheritances without heirs, goods with unknown owners, and waqfs without trustees; 3- Businesses; 4- Zakat and alms. These assets, collected in accordance with the necessary conditions and procedures, constitute the state’s lawful revenues. Apart from t...