Q: Is it permissible for a Muslim Business owner to keep his business open during Jummah or any other salaah time while he attends the musjid but has a non Muslim manager keeping the business open during this time?
A: Jumu’ah Salaah is one of the most significant symbols of Islam. The respect for Jumu’ah demands that you close up for Jumu’ah. Who knows, for this little sacrifice that you go through, Allah Ta`ala will multiply your profits and grant you immense barkat.
Q: This has still not answered my question. Is it permissible to leave your business open while a non Muslim manager runs your business and you are at the masjid?
A: Some aspects of Deen are forbidden on account of the fact that they may lead to future disaster. The Qur’aan Shareef had stopped the Sahaabah radhiyallahu anhum from using the word ‘raa`ina’ whereas the word ‘raa`ina’ does not have an unpleasant meaning. However, it was on account of the possibility of the word being misconstrued that the Qur’aan had stopped the Sahaabah radhiyallahu anhum from using the word and instructed that they use a word that is not at all ambiguous. Leaving the shop open at the time of Jumu`ah creates ambiguity in peoples’ minds and raises suspicions that the shop owner does not have any respect for Jumu’ah, and it is incumbent for a Muslim to avoid areas of suspicion.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿الجمعة: ٩﴾
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)