Question
Is the Morita Forestry Investment Scheme permissible according to the Shariah? Some time ago, I wrote to the Majlis regarding this investment scheme, and I was grateful to receive a response. Jazaakumullaahu khayran for taking the time to reply. According to Google, Morita Forestry exhibits multiple red flags of an unsustainable pyramid or Ponzi scheme. The company promises abnormally high, guaranteed daily returns on small investments (e.g., spending R450 to make R1000) and operates via aggressive referral links on WhatsApp and Facebook. The reason I am writing again is, because I have become increasingly concerned about the rapid spread of the Morita Forestry investment scheme amongst Muslims. Many people are actively encouraging their families, friends, and communities to join. What is especially worrying is that many of those becoming involved are ordinary, hardworking people, including those who are already facing financial hardship. It grieves me to see many sincere Muslims becoming involved in such opportunities without first seeking guidance from our ‘Ulama or investigating whether the investment is Islamically permissible. In our eagerness to improve our financial ci
Answer
It is just unfortunate that in this age of fitnah, Muslims cannot really rely on receiving guidance from the Ulama. The Ulama themselves are lost – they have lost the Path of the Deen – Siraatul Mustaqeem. It was the Ulama who had certified the haraam ‘ponzi’ schemes of Al Mabroor, Amaanat Investments, etc. All such schemes have collapsed and in the collapse numerous people suffered.
Their suffering was the consequence of their greed and uncaring attitude regarding the Shariah. As long as they believed that ‘gain’ will be forthcoming, they were not concerned with the sources of the income. Regardless of the haraam and halaal aspects, the attitude of Muslims is only the receipt of money even in haraam ways, and this attitude is one of the signs of Qiyaamah as predicted in the Hadith.
The investors only become alerted about the Shariah when the haraam financial schemes collapse into chaos and bankruptcy resulting in the loss of their investments. At the juncture of collapse and loss, the investors turn to the Ulama for guidance and help. But then it is too late. The recent miserable, rotten state of affairs of Amaanat Investments and Al Mabroor Investments testify loudly to the m
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- themajlis.co.za
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- themajlis.co.za Q&A
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