Fatwa ID: 06812

Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Question:

My question from earlier was is becoming a cop something that’s haram? The part that I’m confused about is that as an officer, sometimes detaining a suspect is required. If the suspect is a man, am I allowed to make contact since it is required in the job or is this something that should be avoided at all costs since it would be a non-mahram?

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

Answer:

Working for the police is not prohibited per se. There are many positions one could hold while working for the police which would be deemed permissible.

However, what is explicitly prohibited is that any individual should come into physical contact with non-Mahram people of the opposite gender.

The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, said; “For a nail of iron to be driven in the head of one of you would be better for him than to touch a woman who is not lawful for him.” [Al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr: Hadith 16910] [1]

This also applies to vice versa as well.

For police officers, who work the streets, this is always a possibility that you will need to restrain a person of the opposite gender. Thus, it would not be permissible to hold such a position unless there is certainty that no impermissible actions will occur at all.

Only Allāh Ta’ālā knows best.

Written by Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1]عن مَعْقِل بْن يَسَارٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لأَنْ يُطْعَنَ فِي رَأْسِ أَحَدِكُمْ بِمِخْيَطٍ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَمَسَّ امْرَأَةً لا تَحِلُّ لَهُ