ثمن الجاه في الفقه الإسلامي

Abstract

This study, titled “The Value of Prestige in Islamic Fiqh”, comes in three sections, in addition to an introduction and conclusion. The first section discusses the concept and value of prestige—what a man gets from others in return for his advocacy—and compares the vocabulary related to this concept, such as power, advocacy, and bribery. The second section pinpoints the various perceptions of prestige for which one is rewarded and the constraints of prestige that people consider as good traits by which they keep their rights. The third section shows scholars’ points of view concerning the taking of money in return for using one’s prestige to help others. In addition, this section shows the differences among those points of view, which form three perspectives: prevention, permission and elaboration. This research supports the last perspective, which stresses the permissibility of taking money from a man with prestige in return to his expenditures and expenses; otherwise, it is not permissible. The study concludes that using one’s prestige is considered a kind of charity and a good deed that is done for the sake of Allah. Additionally, it is not permissible for a person to misuse his power and prestige when helping others.