Question 1751: Can brokers and intermediaries take a fee for their work?
Answer
✅ Answer: Please consider the following narrations:
1 عَنْ أَبِی وَلَّادٍ عَنْ أَبِی عَبْدِاللَّهِ وَ غَیْرِهِ عَنْ أَبِی جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ: لَا بَأْسَ بِأَجْرِ السِّمْسَارِ إِنَّمَا یَشْتَرِی لِلنَّاسِ یَوْماً بَعْدَ یَوْمٍ بِشَیْءٍ مُسَمًّی إِنَّمَا هُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْأُجَرَاءِ
📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 196
Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) said: There is no problem with the fee and wage of a broker (dalal). Indeed, he buys things for people every day at a specified fee. Indeed, he is like the hired laborers!
2 عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ بشار عَنْ أَبِی الْحَسَنِ فِی الرَّجُلِ یَدُلُّ عَلَی الدُّورِ وَ الضِّیَاعِ وَ یَأْخُذُ عَلَیْهِ الْأَجْرَ قَالَ هَذِهِ أُجْرَةٌ لَا بَأْسَ بِهَا.
📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 285
Imam Abu al-Hasan (peace be upon him) regarding a person who guides and advises about houses and properties and receives a fee for it said: This fee and wage are not problematic!
3 عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ یَعْنِی عَبْدَ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: سَأَلَهُ أَبِی وَ أَنَا حَاضِرٌ فَقَالَ رُبَّمَا أَمَرْنَا الرَّجُلَ یَشْتَرِی لَنَا الْأَرْضَ أَوِ الدَّوَابَّ أَوِ الْغُلَامَ أَوِ الْخَادِمَ وَ نَجْعَلُ لَهُ جُعْلًا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.
📚 Al-Tahzib, Vol. 6, p. 381
Abdullah bin Sinan said: My father asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) in my presence and said: Sometimes we order someone to buy land, an animal, a servant, or a slave for us, and we pay him a fee. So Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: There is no problem!
4 عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِی عُمَیْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الرَّقِیقِ قَالَ: اشْتَرَیْتُ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جَارِیَةً فَنَاوَلَنِی أَرْبَعَةَ دَنَانِیرَ فَأَبَیْتُ فَقَالَ لَتَأْخُذَنَّ فَأَخَذْتُهَا وَ قَالَ لَا تَأْخُذْ مِنَ الْبَائِعِ.
📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 285
Ibn Abi 'Umayr said: One of our companions said: I bought a slave girl for Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him). So Imam Sadiq gave me four dinars, and I hesitated to take it. Imam said: Surely you will take it! So I took it, and Imam said: Do not take it from the seller!
✅ According to the above narrations and others, a broker who acts as an intermediary between a buyer and a seller and makes a purchase for someone, or a person who guides and advises and receives a fee for it, can determine and receive a specified fee for their work. Such a fee is considered permissible, and there is no problem with it.
Based on the narrations mentioned, brokers and intermediaries hold a position similar to hired laborers, and receiving a predetermined fee for their services is permissible without any issues.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَجِّلْ لِوَلِیِّکَ الْفَرَجَ وَ الْعَافِیَةَ وَ النَّصْر