Fatwa ID: 07780

 

 

Written by Molana Sibghat Ullah

 

 

Question:

 

 

Asalamualikum imam could you please get back to me as fast as possible because it’s about my career.

 

 

I want to take up a career in aircraft maintenance and apart from the job you have to go through safety alarms in the cockpit the safety alarms have a musical sound. These alarms alert the pilot of different situations.

 

 

These alarms contain musical instruments like flute or piano which are haram and could contain more musical instruments if I’m not wrong.

 

 

Please what should I do? These alarms are tested and are part of the job and I really want to get into this career from a young age.

 

 

My question is will my income be haram and should I get into this career? What is your take on this?

 

 

Please search on YouTube for aeroplane cockpit’s different alarm sounds.

Different planes have different sounds.

 

 

Please give fatwa according to Hanafî school

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

 

Answer: 

 

 

The use of musical instruments that are associated with entertainment or distraction from religious obligations is generally not allowed.

 

 

In an aircraft cockpit alarm system, sounds used are for warnings and to alert pilots to potential hazards or system malfunctions. These sounds are not for entertainment but for safety purposes. According to Hanafi Fiqh 

“Necessities make the prohibited permissible.”

 

The safety of people makes it permissible to allow the use of otherwise impermissible sounds (like tones or alarms).

 

 

Also, there is another rule which is 

“Harm is to be removed.”

 

Here, this principle applies to any system (like cockpit alarms) designed to prevent harm, especially in critical situations by alerting the pilots to take safety precautions.  

 

 

To conclude, it is permissible for you to check these alarms and your income will not be haram as these checks are done for safety and not for entertainment purposes.

  

 

Hope this answers the question.

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Molana Sibghat Ullah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

References

 

 

 Qawaid Ul Faqeeh, Page 43      “الضرورات تبيح المحظورات”

 

 Qawaid ul Faqeeh, Page 21         “الضرر يزال”