Q: I work as a shop assistant in a store, and my employer orders me, when a customer asks for a bill for the items they buy at a value higher than their actual prices, that I should give them what they want. For example, if a customer buys an item for fifty SR, and asks me to give him a bill for seventy SR, I should not refuse. The store owner claims that this is to please the buyer and not lose him as a potential customer. Likewise, if the (Part No. 23; Page No. 436) customer asks to add items that he did not buy to the bill, I have to do that to please him as well. I would like to ask about the religious ruling in this regard. Is this permissible on my part? Should I obey the owner of the store in what he asks me to do; considering that if I do not, he would get rid of me? What advice do you give me and those who force their workers to do similar illegal acts to gain more customers?

A: You have to be honest in your dealings and should not write anything on the bill other than the actual price of items sold to customers. Adding a higher price than the actual one so that the customer would take the difference from whoever sent him to buy and give him the bill, is a sheer lie. Thus, you have collaborated in the sin of unjustly taking people's money. The same applies to adding unsold items to the bill. As you know, the evilest of all people are those who would sacrifice their Din (religion) for the sake of worldly gains. May Allah save us. I advise you to repent to Allah from what you have committed and to be honest by using the right means of selling, and never obey the owner of the store in disobeying Allah, for the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, There is no obedience in matters involving Allah's disobedience or displeasure. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.