Fatwa ID: 05606

 

Answered by: Maulana Syed Johir Miah

 

Question:

 

I work in a print shop where sometimes I have to design and print menu for bar and restaurants which serves haram. Sometimes I have to design and print leaflets for religious matters other than Islam. But this is not a regular thing and as an employee so I can’t refuse those customers. The shop owner is Muslim and the business is relatively new.

 

In this situation is this job allowed for me to continue?

 

 

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

 

Answer:

 

Allah (عز و جل)has ordered us to eat from the things which are halal and good for us, hence the income we earn should be lawful in order for our sustenance to be lawful.

 

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ( رضى الله عنه )narrated that Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم)of Allah (عز و جل)said:

 

أيُّها النّاسُ، إنَّ اللهَ طَيِّبٌ لا يَقْبَلُ إلّا طَيِّبًا، وإنَّ اللهَ أمَرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ بِما أمَرَ بِهِ المُرْسَلِينَ، فَقالَ: ﴿يا أيُّها الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّباتِ واعْمَلُوا صالِحًا، إنِّي بِما تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ﴾ [المؤمنون ٥١] وقالَ: ﴿يا أيُّها الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِن طَيِّباتِ ما رَزَقْناكُمْ﴾ [البقرة ١٧٢] ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أشْعَثَ أغْبَرَ، يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إلى السَّماءِ، يا رَبِّ، يا رَبِّ، ومَطْعَمُهُ حَرامٌ، ومَشْرَبُهُ حَرامٌ، ومَلْبَسُهُ حَرامٌ، وغُذِيَ بِالحَرامِ، فَأنّى يُسْتَجابُ لِذَلِكَ؟»

 

O people, Allah is Good and He, therefore, accepts only that which is good. And Allah commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers by saying: “O Messengers, eat of the good things, and do good deeds; verily I am aware of what you do” (Surah Muminoon, Verse 51).

 

And He said: “O those who believe, eat of the good things that We gave you” ( Surah Baqarah, Verse 172).

 

He then made a mention of a person who travels widely, his hair dishevelled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky (and thus makes the supplication): “O Lord, O Lord,” whereas his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful. How can then his supplication be accepted?[1]

 

Likewise, Allah (سبحانه و تعالى)says in the Holy Quran says:

 

وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى الْبرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلاَ تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِنَّ اللّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ﴿٢﴾

 

“And assist one another in acts of righteousness and piety and do not assist one another in act of transgression and sin.” (Surah Maidah, Verse 2)

 

Hence, for you to design and print menu for bar and restaurants which serves haram and irregularly to print leaflets for religious matters other than Islam, is not helping and assisting in doing good.

 

Therefore, it is best to avoid such jobs and workplaces and work in a place where there is halal earning undoubtedly.

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Syed Johir Miah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

 

[1] Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1015, 703/2, Dar Ihyat Turath, Beirut, Lebanon. 1412 H.