Fatwa ID: 06915

Answered by: Maulana Burhaan Rahman

 

Question:

 

I was wondering – is it haram to work as a donation processor and stocker to a non-profit business, where I would sort, price, and stock donated items to the business? These items might be immodest clothes, books that contain un-Islamic messaging, and haram artwork, as well as other haram items related to those things. Thank you, may Allah bless you and reward you for all the great work you guys have done.

 

 

 

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

 

Answer:

 

This is a very delicate issue.

 

As far as working in a business or a company is concerned, if the company whereby the major activity is Haram then it is not permissible e.g. a gambling company, haram butchers, club etc.

 

But if it’s a situation where you are working in a hotel let’s say where there is a bar selling alcohol but you work as a receptionist dealing with room bookings, it’s permissible.

 

If the work in and of itself is permissible, and does not involve directly helping anyone to commit unlawful acts, selling unlawful things as a whole, it is permissible. From your personal job, you mentioned:

 

• Immodest clothes, maybe these clothes the wife shall wear in front of her husband etc. lawful to sell 
• Un-Islamic messaging is very vague i.e. magic like Harry Potter etc. non-fiction books. lawful to sell 
• Haram artwork (nude pictures) is Haram to sell 
• Other Haram items can be included in Haram

 

So in such a case, if you can alter what you deal with that could work out for you, if you can’t, maybe a job change shall be suitable as a Muslim

 

Allah mentions in the Qur’an:

 

وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

 

Help one another with Al Birr and At Taqwa (virtue, justice, and piety), but not with vice and transgression. And be afraid of Allah. Allah, verily, is ruthless in punishment. [Surah Maa’idah verse 2]

 

Muslims should not get into such unconvincing and dubious transactions/trades whilst there is too much doubt related towards the issue.

 

Our beloved prophet (SAW) has mentioned:

 

دع ما يريبك إلى ما لا يريبك

 

“Leave that which doubts you for that which has no doubt to you”. [Tirmidhi Hadeeth no: 2442]

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham