I was working a very hard job, so I could not continue in it, and I began looking for another job that was less strenuous, but I found nothing except work in the tobacco or
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The questioner : I was working a very hard job and could not continue in it, so I began...
The Shaykh : ... .
The questioner : I could not continue in it.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : I began looking for another job that was less strenuous, but I found nothing except work in a company that manufactures tobacco or cigarettes. I have been working there for a few months now. Please note that I do not smoke cigarettes or any type of tobacco. The question is: what is the ruling on the wages I receive for this work? Is it lawful or forbidden? Please note that I am sincere in my work, and praise be to Allah?
The Shaykh : The answer is that it is not permissible for you to work in this company that manufactures cigarettes, because manufacturing cigarettes and trading in them, whether by selling or buying, is forbidden. Working in the company that manufactures them is assisting in this forbidden matter. Allah the Exalted said in His Book:[Al-Ma'idah 5:2] Therefore, your remaining in this company is forbidden, and the wages you earn through your work are also forbidden. You must repent to Allah and leave work in this company. A small lawful wage is better than a large forbidden wage, because if a man acquires wealth through forbidden means, Allah does not bless it for him. If he gives it in charity, Allah does not accept it from him. If he leaves it behind after his death, it will be a burden on him, and his heirs after him will benefit from it. Know that it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: إن الله طيب لا يقبل إلا طيباً، وإن الله أمر المؤمنين بما أمر به المرسلين، فقال تعالى: يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ وقال تعالى: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءامَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلَّهِ إِنْ كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ Indeed, Allah is Good and accepts nothing but what is good, and indeed, Allah commanded the believers with what He commanded the messengers, so He said: O messengers, eat from the good things and do good, for I am Knowing of what you do. And He said: O you who believe, eat from the good things We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is Him you worship. He mentioned a man who travels a long distance, disheveled and covered in dust, stretching his hands toward the sky, saying: “O my Lord, O my Lord,” while his food is forbidden, his clothing is forbidden, and he is nourished with what is forbidden. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) considered it unlikely that this man’s supplication would be answered, even though he had fulfilled the conditions for the acceptance of supplication, because his food is forbidden, his clothing is forbidden, his drink is forbidden, and he is nourished with what is forbidden. If this supplicant, despite having the conditions for the acceptance of supplication, is unlikely to have his supplication answered by Allah because these matters are forbidden for him, then this necessitates that a sensible person be cautious about consuming what is forbidden and stay away from it. [At-Talaq 65:2-3] [At-Talaq 65:4] My advice to you, my brother, is to fear Allah the Mighty and Majestic, to leave this company, and to seek lawful sustenance so that Allah may bless it for you.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
This is a message we received from the listener Aml 'Abd al-Karim from Iraq, al-Qadisiyyah Governorate. She says in her message:
The Shaykh : ... .
The questioner : I could not continue in it.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : I began looking for another job that was less strenuous, but I found nothing except work in a company that manufactures tobacco or cigarettes. I have been working there for a few months now. Please note that I do not smoke cigarettes or any type of tobacco. The question is: what is the ruling on the wages I receive for this work? Is it lawful or forbidden? Please note that I am sincere in my work, and praise be to Allah?
The Shaykh : The answer is that it is not permissible for you to work in this company that manufactures cigarettes, because manufacturing cigarettes and trading in them, whether by selling or buying, is forbidden. Working in the company that manufactures them is assisting in this forbidden matter. Allah the Exalted said in His Book:
And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِHow then will it be answered?
فأنى يُستجاب لذلكAnd whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (3) And will provide for him from where he does not expect.
وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا * وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُAnd whoever fears Allah - He will make for him of his matter ease.
وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْرًاThe questioner : May Allah bless you.
This is a message we received from the listener Aml 'Abd al-Karim from Iraq, al-Qadisiyyah Governorate. She says in her message: