FatwaFederal TerritoriesTransactions & Finance
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-919: CUKAI DAN SYARIAH: MENYINGKAP HUKUM PERCUKAIAN DALAM ISLAM
Does Islam permit a state to collect taxes from its citizens, given the hadith that warns against tax collection by the government?
Short answer
The taxation practised in Malaysia is generally not contrary to Islamic law.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Transactions & Finance
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The taxation practised in Malaysia is generally not contrary to Islamic law. The prohibited al-maks refers to collecting wealth unjustly without right and giving it to those not entitled, whereas modern taxation is transparent, fair, directed to public welfare and approved by the people's representatives in Parliament. The ruling notes that some scholars hold that a government may require obligations on wealth beyond zakat, and stresses that improvements to the tax system should continue.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Amalan percukaian yang dilaksanakan di Malaysia secara umumnya tidak bercanggah dengan hukum syarak.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-919: CUKAI DAN SYARIAH: MENYINGKAP HUKUM PERCUKAIAN DALAM ISLAM”, 23 July 2025. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/6325-irsyad-hukum-siri-ke-919-cukai-dan-syariah-menyingkap-hukum-percukaian-dalam-islam. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/is-government-taxation-permissible-in-islam/