The Ruling on Working as a Lawyer and Defending the Righteous and the Wicked
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This questioner, who has used the letter "F" as a code for his name, asks: Honorable Shaykh, what is the ruling in the Shari'ah, in your view, on working as a general lawyer, and what is your opinion on defending a righteous person and a wicked one?
Answer:
Advocacy means acting as an agent in a dispute or being entrusted with a dispute on behalf of another. This is permissible if one does not lie in his advocacy, does not fabricate evidence, and seeks only the truth, taking what is rightfully his and repelling injustice. So advocacy is permissible in these matters. However, if the advocacy is for invalid matters, or involves fabrication, or seizing people's rights without right, then this is injustice, and this advocacy is forbidden. Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:105-107] So advocacy in rights that contain no injustice, no fabrication, and no lying is a straight path. As for advocacy in matters that contain injustice, lying, fabrication, and the seizure of people's rights, this is invalid advocacy. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.
This questioner, who has used the letter "F" as a code for his name, asks: Honorable Shaykh, what is the ruling in the Shari'ah, in your view, on working as a general lawyer, and what is your opinion on defending a righteous person and a wicked one?
Answer:
Advocacy means acting as an agent in a dispute or being entrusted with a dispute on behalf of another. This is permissible if one does not lie in his advocacy, does not fabricate evidence, and seeks only the truth, taking what is rightfully his and repelling injustice. So advocacy is permissible in these matters. However, if the advocacy is for invalid matters, or involves fabrication, or seizing people's rights without right, then this is injustice, and this advocacy is forbidden. Allah the Exalted said:
And do not be for the deceitful an advocate. (106) And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful. (107) And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allah loves not one who is a habitually sinful deceiver.
وَلَا تَكُن لِّلْخَائِنِينَ خَصِيمًا وَاسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا وَلَا تُجَادِلْ عَنِ الَّذِينَ يَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًاThe presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 03/150 — archive.org (15:17)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.