Fatwa No : 85375
Giving Commission to a Doctor from the Test Fees of a Hospital

Giving Commission to a Doctor from the Test Fees of a Hospital

I work as a doctor in a private hospital. For diagnostic purposes, I ask patients to get a CBC test, and I request it solely for medical/diagnostic reasons. However, at the end of the month, the hospital gives me some money. Should I accept this commission? This is a private hospital where I work as a doctor on a share basis, and I do not take a fixed monthly salary. I also do not receive any money from any specific laboratory or pharmaceutical company. Since the hospital itself provides laboratory services, it is convenient for the patient as well. Please explain the Islamic principles and rulings regarding this matter.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It should be understood that prescribing beneficial medication for a patient, requesting necessary tests, and referring the patient to a better hospital or doctor when required are all part of a doctor’s responsibilities. However, writing unnecessary tests or directing patients to an unreliable laboratory is deception and betrayal, and any gifts or commissions obtained through such actions are not lawful in Shariah. Therefore, in the case under discussion, if the questioner truly requests a CBC test from patients solely on the basis of diagnostic need, and does not compel patients to have the test done from that same laboratory, and the laboratory does not charge patients a higher price due to this commission or gift—then in such a situation, the amount given by the hospital administration at the end of the month, out of their own willingness and satisfaction, will be considered a gift (even if they label it as a commission). This is on the condition that both parties do not regard this giving and receiving as an obligatory monthly entitlement, but something voluntary—sometimes it may be given and sometimes not, without any objection from the doctor. Therefore, giving such an amount by the hospital and receiving it by the questioner are both permissible and valid according to Shariah, and there is no harm in it.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما قال اللہ تعالی: ولاتاکلوا اموالکم بینکم بالباطل إلخ(البقرۃ: 188)
وفی أحکام القرآن للجصاص تحت قولہ تعالی: ( ولاتأکلوا اموالکم بینکم بالباطل وتدلوا بھا الی الحکام لتأکلوا فریقاً من اموال الناس بالاثم ) والمراد واللہ اعلم لایاکل بعضکم مال بعض بالباطل(إلی قولہ) واکل المال بالباطل علی وجھین: احدھما علی وجہ الظلم والسرقۃ والخیانۃ والغصب وما جری مجراہ إلخ( باب ما یحلہ حکم الحاکم ومالایحلہ، ج: 1، ص: 250۔251، ط: سھیل اکیدمی لاھور )۔
و فی جامع الترمذی: عن أبی بکر الصدیق رضی اللہ عنہ قال: قال رسول اللہﷺ: (( ملعون من ضار مؤمنا أو مکر بہ )) إلخ( أبواب البر والصلۃ، باب ماجاء فی الخیانۃ والغش، ج: 2، ص: 696، ط: البشری )۔
وفی الھندیۃ: أما تفسیرھا فھی تملیک عین بلا عوض کذا فی الکنز و أما رکنھا فقول الواھب و ھبت لأنہ تملیک و إنما یتم بالمالک وحدہ و القبول شرط ثبوت الملک للموھوب لہ۔إلخ( کتاب الھبۃ، الباب الأول فی تفسیر الھبۃ إلخ، ج: 4، ص: 374، ط: مکتبہ ماجدیۃ)۔