Q: I would like to enquire regarding the Shar’ee ruling of a certain business scheme that is currently being promoted in many places of this country and in other countries as well. The scheme operates under the name “Qnet.” I will explain how this scheme works through an example:
Zaid purchases a watch from Qnet for the amount of R40,000. However, this type of watch is normally sold for approximately R1,000 in the general market. The only reason why Zaid purchases this watch at such an inflated price is to gain entry into the Qnet business scheme and start earning profits.
Zaid then refers others (Bakr, Khalid, and Qaasim) to also purchase a watch from Qnet at a similar inflated price. Once these individuals make their purchases of the watches, Zaid immediately receives a commission for referring them.
Subsequently, Bakr, Khalid, and Qaasim each proceed to recruit five more individuals to the Qnet scheme. When these new recruits make purchases from Qnet, Zaid, as well as Bakr, Khalid, and Qaasim, respectively, receive further commission based on these purchases. Though Zaid did not make any effort in getting the five more individuals to purchase and join Qnet, he receives a commission from their purchases.
Each of these five individuals will then get ten more people to purchase from Qnet. When these fifty new people purchase from Qnet, then Zaid, Bakr, Khalid and Qaasim as well as the five individuals respectively will receive commission from the fifty new people. This chain will continue down the line and those on top will continue receiving commission from the transactions that take place at the bottom, even though they do not make any effort.
Is participation in such a business scheme permissible in Islam?
A: After examining the manner in which the Qnet scheme operates, we conclude that it is not permissible for one to participate in such a scheme. The reason is that Shariah does not allow one to earn commissions from transactions in which one did not make any effort. Hence, if one earns commissions from transactions in which one did not make any effort, the commission earned will be riba (interest) and ruled as haraam.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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