Ruling on working outside one's government position
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Regarding an employee whose salary is insufficient for his personal expenses, is it permissible for him to work elsewhere?
It is permissible for an employee whose salary is insufficient for his personal affairs to work in a job that the government or the regulations do not prohibit.
The questioner: Do the regulations prohibit a commercial registration for establishing a business?The Shaykh: If the regulations prohibit it, then it is not permissible for him to open one, neither in his own name nor under a pseudonym;Because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says: [Al-Ma'idah: 1] And Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Isra: 34] .
The employee applied for the government job knowing that this is a condition for every employee, so his entering the position constitutes a commitment on his part not to open a commercial registration or engage in trade.
Some people might say: The government has no right to prevent someone from seeking the provision of Allah;Because Allah said in the Noble Qur'an: [Al-Jumu'ah: 10] meaning: the Friday prayer [Al-Jumu'ah: 10] So Allah has permitted us to disperse in the earth and seek from the bounty of Allah after the Friday prayer, so how can the government prevent us from that?Answer: We say to him: The government has not prevented you, but it said: I will not enter into a contract with you except with this condition, and this condition is permissible,I mean: abandoning trade is permissible, so if it is permissible and a person commits to abandoning it in fulfillment of his pledge to the government, this proceeds according to the principles of Islamic law.
So we say to this employee: You are between three things: - either you leave the job and open the commercial registration.
- or you leave the commercial registration and remain in your job.
- or you seek permission from the government and explain your need to them, and perhaps if you explain your need to them and that your salary is small and the requirements of your life are many, they may allow you.
It is permissible for an employee whose salary is insufficient for his personal affairs to work in a job that the government or the regulations do not prohibit.
The questioner: Do the regulations prohibit a commercial registration for establishing a business?The Shaykh: If the regulations prohibit it, then it is not permissible for him to open one, neither in his own name nor under a pseudonym;Because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:
O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِAnd fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.
وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْؤُولاًThe employee applied for the government job knowing that this is a condition for every employee, so his entering the position constitutes a commitment on his part not to open a commercial registration or engage in trade.
Some people might say: The government has no right to prevent someone from seeking the provision of Allah;Because Allah said in the Noble Qur'an:
When the prayer has been completed
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلاةُdisperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah
فَانْتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِSo we say to this employee: You are between three things: - either you leave the job and open the commercial registration.
- or you leave the commercial registration and remain in your job.
- or you seek permission from the government and explain your need to them, and perhaps if you explain your need to them and that your salary is small and the requirements of your life are many, they may allow you.