Question 81 : Assalaamu’alaykum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh, Dear Sheikhs

Is it allowed to become a real estate agent in this country?

Jazaakumullaahu khayran wa BaarakAllaahu feekum

Answer :  Walaikumussalam wr wb Sister,

I understand that it is permissible to be a real estate agent selling houses to people on behalf of its owners in return for a percentage of the profit.

Given that almost all people buy homes on Riba, which is haraam, the real estate agent should not enter into any advice about taking Riba but merely show the house, bargain the price, get consent of both sides on a price, then make and conclude the sale but not advise nor encourage the buyer to take Riba loans nor be the witness to Riba negotiations between the bank and the buyer, rather limit the involvement to the deal between the seller and the intended buyer.

What is there of Riba between the buyer and the bank is something that the real estate agent has no authority over, especially given that even some renowned Muslim scholars of today consider purchase of the first home on Riba loan to be permissible in Muslim minority Kafir countries in our time.

Allah knows best