He made a deal with a person to arrange his travel to UK
27-12-2011 | IslamWeb
Question:
Assalamu alaikum. I was working in an institute where they send students to UK for higher studies after completing the basics in our country. I got links with some people who are doing this outside and I helped few people by my own to go to UK. This process includes finding a sponsor (by paying money) and arranging other relevant documents. I took some money from one person and I told him that these are the conditions. Mainly, when refunding the money, we will check if it the mistakes are from our side we will do full refund and if the mistake is from the person side ONLY 60% will be refunded. He agreed and we started the process. And then after 2 processing even for 1.5 years the person has not submitted the relevant documents (some school certificates which he promised he has) and then he wanted the refund. Though we have not applied we have done some processes and we have informed him if refunded we will refund ONLY 60%. Initially he agreed and later at the time of refunding he was asking the full amount and he was bringing some other people also to threaten. The arranging the sponsor was ONLY my part and I took full money and I was arranging it. Since he was not ready to continue the process I stop buying a new sponsor and I told him the money which he gave to us will not return due to his mistakes. Any how I understood this service is involves lots of haram like getting sponsors for money and keeping commissions for this, so I have stopped this before 3 years and I asked forgiveness from Allah and I never did this work again. Inshallah I will not hereafter also. My question is, the money I made out of these things I have used in my life early. Even I used for my wedding. I am scared will there be any effect in my current life & future due to sin I did early, I continuously asking dua after every prayers to save me from the problems that come due to the previous sins I did. for that particular person, do I need to return his money though initially he agreed
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Working in arranging the travel of those people for study is a lawful job – Allaah willing – and you may take fees for it. If you had agreed with that person that if he does not provide his documents within a given period, a given deduction will be taken from the fees, then this is permissible based on the fact that the contract between you and him is a hiring contract and you had provided your benefits to him during this period while he failed to take advantage of it.
As regards the fees taken in return for arranging a sponsor, then taking fees just for the sponsorship is not permissible. Therefore, the fees for this service are unlawful and you should give it back to whom you had taken it from. If you are unable to do so, then you should give it in charity on his behalf while intending the reward for him, and you should repent to Allaah from that. After having done so, you are not required to do anything and you are not sinful [Allaah willing].
Indeed, whoever sincerely repents, Allaah accepts his repentance. This repentance should urge you to seek a lawful job without making you sad or frustrated.
Allaah Knows best.