Fatwa ID: 06778

 

Answered by: Maulana Abdoullah Limvoonheek

 

Question:

 

Living in the West, is it permissible to work for a government agency? Federal government or a state government?

 

2.) Is it permissible to send boys to join the army, navy, or Air Force?

 

 

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

 

Answer:

 

Your concern for Halal sustenance is commendable and a sign of your Allah consciousness.

 

A- It will be permissible to work for the government and the income received will be Halal. One must ensure that he does not obstruct the rights of others.

 

In principle, If you get a job in the government office, it is permissible provided the job itself is permissible.

 

If haraam or doubtful methods are used then it is haraam.

 

In general, it is permitted to work for the civil service and in other government posts. If there is the possibility of something being haram, one should consult with reliable scholars about how to proceed while striving to uphold balanced scrupulousness. When something is clearly haram, then one must (clearly) avoid it.

 

B- It will be permissible if you are quite certain that the work that you will engage in is absolutely permissible and you will not be involved in any type of injustice, wrong and corruption, which is highly impossible. Personally, we do not advise you to take up this profession because of the ambience of the environment that prevails in the army.

 

Therefore it will not be permissible to work in the armed forces if the work conflicts with Sharee’ah. This includes causing harm to Muslims or innocents be it directly or indirectly.

 

One should avoid such a job which involves unlawful acts, one should always opt for only lawful jobs. Allah says in the Quran (surah talaq):

 

وَمَنۡ يَّـتَّـقِ اللّٰهَ يَجۡعَلْ لَّهٗ مَخۡرَجًا، وَّيَرۡزُقۡهُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَحۡتَسِبُ‌ ؕ وَمَنۡ يَّتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى اللّٰهِ فَهُوَ حَسۡبُهٗ

 

 

 

 

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Abdoullah Limvoonheek

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

 

 

Reference:

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «طَلَبُ كَسْبِ الْحَلَالِ فَرِيضَةٌ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شعب الْإِيمَان

Mishkat al-Masabih 2781

 

إن الحلال بين، وإن الحرام بين، وبينهما مشتبهات لا يعلمهن كثير من الناس، فمن اتقى الشبهات، استبرأ لدينه وعرضه، ومن وقع فى الشبهات، وقع فى الحرام، كالراعى يرعى حول الحمى يوشك أن يرتع فيه ألا وإن لكل ملك حمى، ألا وإن حمى الله محارمه، ألا وإن فى الجسد مضغة إذا صلحت صلح الجسد كله، وإذا فسدت فسد الجسد كله‏:‏ ألا وهى القلب
Sahih Bukhari 52

 

 

الحديث القدسي: “يا عبادي إني حرمت الظلم على نفسي وجعلته بينكم محرما فلا تظالموا
Sahih Muslim hadith 2577

 

 

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ اتَّقُوا الظُّلْمَ، فَإِنَّ الظُّلْمَ ظُلُمَاتٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
Sahih Muslim hadith 2578