Answered by: Alimah Habiba Akhtar
Question:
Can you work as a security guard at football, cricket or rugby matches?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The importance of Halal Earnings
As dutiful Muslims, it is vital that the importance of Halal earnings is grasped. The Shariah law has laid out which one may deal with and that which is impermissible to deal with.
Allah SWT says:
“Eat of what is lawful and pure in the earth, and do not follow in Satan’s steps.”
[2:168] (1)
The words ‘Eat of what is lawful’ pertains to consuming good and halal wealth.
Why must our earnings be pure?
Our wealth assists in our sustenance, provision and our consumption. If the root of our wealth is Haram, then that which follows will be evil.
It is stated in Hadith:
‘Abdallah b. Mas’ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Trying to earn a lawful livelihood is an obligatory duty in addition to the duties which are obligatory.”
(Mishkatul Masabih, 2781) (2)
The Hadith above compares earning lawfully to the common and primary obligations. Thus, we can derive the vitality of halal earning upon a Muslim.
The extract of the Hadith of Sunan Ibn Majah below narrates the event of a Sahabi and his unlawful means of earning:
Safwan bin Umayyah said:
“We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and Amr bin Murrah came and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), Allah (SWT) has decreed that I be doomed, and He has not guided me to earn a living except by beating my tambourine with my hand; give me permission to sing without doing anything immoral.’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘I will not give you permission, or honour you nor give you, what you want. You are lying, O enemy of Allah. Allah (SWT) has granted you a good, lawful provision, but you have chosen the provision that Allah (SWT) has forbidden to you instead of that which He has permitted. If I had warned you before, I would have done such and such to you. Get away from me and repent to Allah (SWT).
(Sunan Ibn Majah, 2613) (3)
It is therefore essential to ensure our earnings and work is Shariah-compliant and our wealth and earnings aren’t compromised
In regards to your query, it is determined whether one’s earning is lawful based on the nature of the job. If the job involves permissible activities that don’t compromise one’s faith, then the job will be permissible and the work of a security guard is lawful in itself. There is no disobedience or transgression in the actual work (4)
Thus, as the work of a security guard isn’t unlawful, one can work as a security guard and gain halal earnings. Though, one must be cautious where they offer their services.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Alimah Habiba Akhtar
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
(1)
(یَـٰۤأَیُّهَاٱلنَّاسُ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّافِیٱلۡأَرۡضِ حَلَـٰلࣰاطَیِّبࣰاوَلَاتَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَ ٰتِ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنِۚ إِنَّهُۥلَكُمۡ عَدُوࣱّ مُّبِینٌ)
[Surah Al-Baqarah 168]
(2)
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّىاللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «طَلَبُ كَسْبِ الْحَلَالِ فَرِيضَةٌ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ»
(Mishkatul Masabih, 2781)
(3)
صَفْوَانَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ، قَالَ كُنَّاعِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلىاللهعليهوسلمفَجَاءَ عَمْرُوبْنُ قُرَّةَ فَقَالَ يَارَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ كَتَبَ عَلَىَّ الشِّقْوَةَ فَمَاأُرَانِيأُرْزَقُ إِلاَّ مِنْ دُفِّيبِكَفِّيفَأْذَنْ لِيفِيالْغِنَاءِ فِيغَيْرِ فَاحِشَةٍ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلىاللهعليهوسلم ” لاَ آذَنُ لَكَ وَلاَ كَرَامَةَ وَلاَ نُعْمَةَ عَيْنٍ كَذَبْتَ أَىْ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَزَقَكَ اللَّهُ طَيِّبًاحَلاَلاً فَاخْتَرْتَ مَاحَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ رِزْقِهِ مَكَانَ مَاأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَكَ مِنْ حَلاَلِهِ . وَلَوْ كُنْتُ تَقَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكَ لَفَعَلْتُ بِكَ وَفَعَلْتُ قُمْ عَنِّيوَتُبْ إِلَىاللَّهِ أَمَاإِنَّكَ إِنْ فَعَلْتَ بَعْدَ التَّقْدِمَةِ إِلَيْكَ ضَرَبْتُكَ ضَرْبًاوَجِيعًاوَحَلَقْتُ رَأْسَكَ مُثْلَةً وَنَفَيْتُكَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ وَأَحْلَلْتُ سَلَبَكَ نُهْبَةً لِفِتْيَانِ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ ” . فَقَامَ عَمْرٌووَبِهِ مِنَ الشَّرِّ وَالْخِزْىِ مَالاَ يَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ فَلَمَّاوَلَّىقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلىاللهعليهوسلم ” هَؤُلاَءِ الْعُصَاةُ مَنْ مَاتَ مِنْهُمْ بِغَيْرِ تَوْبَةٍ حَشَرَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كَمَاكَانَ فِيالدُّنْيَامُخَنَّثًاعُرْيَانًالاَ يَسْتَتِرُ مِنَ النَّاسِ بِهُدْبَةٍ كُلَّمَاقَامَ صُرِعَ ” .
(Sunan Ibn Majah, 2613)
(4)
قَوْلُهُ وَجَازَ تَعْمِيرُ كَنِيسَةٍ) قَالَ فِيالْخَانِيَّةِ: وَلَوْ آجَرَ نَفْسَهُ لِيَعْمَلَ فِيالْكَنِيسَةِ وَيُعَمِّرَهَالَابَأْسَ بِهِ لِأَنَّهُ لَامَعْصِيَةَ فِيعَيْنِ الْعَمَلِ
Raddul Mukhtar, Vol 6, Page 391, HM Saeed)