Question
I am a partner in a real estate property. A friend of mine wanted to buy an apartment that belongs to my partner. I agreed with my partner on a certain price for the apartment. Is it permissible for me to charge my friend a higher price and take the difference as a commission?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
This deal has two possible manifestations:
First: The owner asks you to sell the apartment for a defined price, and then you sell it for a higher price. In this case, the price and the extra amount must be given to the owner, because the extra money is a return generated by his property. The broker deserves nothing but a fee. If the seller wants to give him the extra money as a fee, then it is permissible.
Second: The owner asks you to sell the apartment for a definite price and tells you to take the extra money (charged by you). Scholars have differed whether this deal is valid, and thus the agent deserves the extra money, or the deal is not valid and thus the agent deserves nothing but a fee.
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, deemed this second type of deal to be valid and thus the agent is entitled to the extra money. None of the Companions opposed Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with them all, as indicated by Ibn Hazm, Ibn Qudaamah and other scholars .
This opinion was favored by Imaam Ahmad . It is also preponderant, Allah willing, based on the aforementioned Fatwa of Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, the lack of opposition to this from the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and because such contracts are basically permissible unless they involve interest or uncertainty.
Other scholars hold this contract to be invalid and thus the agent only deserves the market fee.
Allah Knows best.
Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb