Answered by: Shaykh Ahmed Bin Mohamed Umarji
Question:
I am a woman of working age, my husband and I have been living in the UK for a few years now, and throughout these years I have been applying for a lot of jobs but I was never successful in getting a job whilst my husband Alhamdulillah’s found a job very shortly and has been supporting us throughout the years. Lately, I had a job interview at Tesco and I finally got accepted for a job for the first time. The role is a customer assistant where I may have to handle alcoholic beverages at check out or stocking. I saw another Fatwa where you approved the job Halal as long as I’m not carrying it protecting or promoting it, but does the fatwa change if I am a woman and our financial situation is decent as my husband’s job supports us, we have the food we need and a roof over our head but would absolutely love to work as well rather than stay home as we haven’t been able to become parents yet. I am not sure if this is relevant but I follow madhab Imam Malik and my husband follows Shafi’i.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
- Working at a supermarket where one has to handle non-halal products should be avoided. However, if it is the only job option available or if switching jobs is difficult, working there will be permissible.1
- With regards to women working, It is not permissible for a woman to work in such a place where she has to interact with men and the Shari’ purdah is not adhered to. However, if she takes up a job that does not require the intermingling of sexes, and the Shari’ purdah is not violated while travelling for work, then it would be permissible.2
Based on these two rulings and looking at your condition as you are not obliged to work this position should be avoided.
If you have a passion for work, make Dua that Allah Ta’ala opens the doors for you to find work that is enjoyable and does not go against Islamic Values.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Shaykh Ahmed bin Mohamed Umarji
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 (وحَمْلُ خَمْرِ الذِّمِّيِّ بِأجْرٍ) يَعْنِي جازَ ذَلِكَ وهَذا عِنْدَ الإمامِ وقالا يُكْرَهُ لِأنَّهُ – «لَعَنَ فِي الخَمْرِ عَشَرَةً وعَدَّ مِنها حامِلَها» ولَهُ أنَّ الإجارَةَ عَلى الحَمْلِ وهُوَ لَيْسَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ وإنَّما المَعْصِيَةُ بِفِعْلِ فاعِلٍ مُخْتارٍ فَصارَ كَمَن اسْتَأْجَرَهُ لِعَصْرِ خَمْرِ العِنَبِ وقَطْفِهِ، والحَدِيثُ يُحْمَلُ عَلى الحَمْلِ المَقْرُونِ بِقَصْدِ المَعْصِيَةِ وعَلى هَذا الخِلافِ إذا أجَّرَ دابَّةً لِيَحْمِلَ عَلَيْها الخَمْرَ أوْ نَفْسَهُ لِيَرْعى لَهُ الخَنازِيرَ فَإنَّهُ يَطِيبُ لَهُ الأجْرُ عِنْدَهُ وعِنْدَهُما يُكْرَهُ
الكتاب: البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق – الناشر: دار الكتاب الإسلامي – مجلد: 8 صفحة: 231
2 Aapke Masaail aur Unka Hal Volome 8 Pages 69&91 Maktabah Ludhyanwi