Q: I live in canada and have studied to become a police officer. Praise be to Allah he has guided me to be closer to him. Originally I didn’t think there was anything wrong with being a police officer. However recently I have read some websites that have declared it an act of kufr and shirk. Now my life has come to a halt because I’m unsure of what to do.
The reasons they gave for it being an act of kufr or shirk are:
1) I am enforcing man made laws
2) I have to take an oath
3) there is a tiny cross on top of a crown on the police arm patches ( could I just cover the cross)?
4) I may have to arrest muslims who break the law and the courts here are non Islamic as well as the jails.
5) domestic abuse is a big problem here, I may get called and if one of the spouses feels threatened or does not want the other to be around or they look physically abused, then I will have to arrest the perpetrator for the safety of the other until something is figured out between them personally or in court.
6) I would be assisting in sin because laws here permit things like drinking, however public intoxication isn’t permitted and I could ticket them if I chose to or if it’s really bad, I could arrest them. but, logically I wouldn’t be able to ticket everyone, if anyone at all, unless they are causing problems.
For your reference these are the oaths, I would have to take:
I solemnly swear (affirm) that I will be loyal to Her Majesty the Queen and to Canada, and that I will uphold the Constitution of Canada and that I will, to the best of my ability, preserve the peace, prevent offences and discharge my other duties as (insert name of office) faithfully, impartially and according to law. So help me God. (Omit this line in an affirmation.) or I solemnly swear (affirm) that I will be loyal to Canada, and that I will uphold the Constitution of Canada and that I will, to the best of my ability, preserve the peace, prevent offences and discharge my other duties as (insert name of office) faithfully, impartially and according to law. So help me God. (Omit this line in an affirmation.)
A: The way of our righteous people is that we leave out things that are of a doubtful character. Why go around with an unclear clouded mind.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)