Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Badat
Question:
If a job requires you to do something ḥarām (islamicaly forbidden), will your salary be ḥalāl? Example, a female teacher is required to remove her ḥijāb to teach.
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah Institute.
A Muslim must strive to practice religion everywhere. In the modern world we live in, freedom and practice of religion is a basic human right. You can take legal action against employers who deny your religious human rights.
An individual sinful action done at work will result in sin.
If the nature of the work is islamicaly permissible, then the salary earned will be considered ḥalāl (permitted).
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A time will come when one will not care how one earns money, be it from ḥalāl or ḥarām.” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī 2059)
The Prophet of Allāh (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O people, Allāh is Pure and He therefore, accepts only that which is pure. Allāh commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers by saying, “O Messengers, eat of the pure [permissible] things, and do good deeds, verily I am aware of what you do” He also said, “O those who believe, eat of the pure [permissible] things that We gave you.”. He then made a mention of a person who travels widely, his hair disheveled and covered with dust. He lifts his hands towards the sky [and thus supplicates], “O Lord, O Lord,” whereas his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful [being from ḥarām sources]. How can then his supplication [and prayer] be accepted?” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1015)
Only Allāh knows best
يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لاَ يُبَالِي الْمَرْءُ مَا أَخَذَ مِنْهُ أَمِنَ الْحَلاَلِ أَمْ مِنَ الْحَرَامِ - بخاري ٢٠٥٩
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ لاَ يَقْبَلُ إِلاَّ طَيِّبًا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِمَا أَمَرَ بِهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ وَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ . ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ وَغُذِيَ بِالْحَرَامِ فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِكَ – مسلم ١٠١٥
