Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I work in the seafood department of a Grocery store. Basically in the seafood department that i just got hired at, we sell fish, oyester, clams, and lobster About Lobster, The lobsters are in a tank alive. I asked the my supervisor, if they feed them, she said “no we do not feed them at all” and she lets them starve, sometimes the Lobsters eat themselves because of them being so hungry “Cannabilism” and then they die I think because of starvation after two weeks. I asked her if we can feed them, she said if we feed them then the tank will get dirty and somebody who cleans the tank will need to come in more often. Also for the job, if the customer ask’s you, you have to cut the lobster (while it is alive) and then you need to steam the Lobster also while it is alive and moving. The method of cooking Lobsters is to cook them alive in hot boiling water (which customers do). Now I know as I am a muslim it is wrong for me to treat any creature inhumanely? Is it allowed for me to work here? Also i said i cannot do this type of work… she said to me you do not need to sell lobsters… But won’t I still be getting sin for working in a area that does this type of working, or not stopping them for doing it? I dont know what to doo.. Can you please help me, and answer my questions. It is allowed for me according to Islaam?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
While your income itself is halal–because your work itself is permitted, in a permitted line of employment–it would be best to take the active means to seek another job if you aren’t able to encourage your employer to change their treatment of animals.
Islam takes animal rights seriously, and it is a major sin to directly harm or hurt an animal without due right.
Please search for related answers in the SunniPath Answers (qa.SunniPath.com) on the rights of animals.
And Allah alone gives success.
Faraz Rabbani