Is it permissible to join labor unions, and what is their ruling?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Abu Ishaq: Okay, is joining unions permissible, for example, the medical union which has a Hippocratic section, and any union that has specific sections related to it? Is this permissible?
The Shaykh : I believe that all these unions are established on the basis of something other than Islam and are based on laws that contradict Islam. For example, in my understanding of the matter—and I may be wrong—it is necessary to collect funds from the members of these unions. Where do they take these funds? They deposit them in banks. In that case, the member becomes a partner with them, so it is not permissible. This is one of the reasons, of course. I am not an expert on the details of these unions, but I know in general that they are based on these man-made laws that contradict the Islamic Shari'ah. Therefore, it is not permissible for a Muslim to be a partner in them, except based on the principle of "except what you are compelled to do." And I do not think that this principle applies in a case like this.
The questioner : Savings and insurance that the state imposes on employees, and these funds are deposited in the Housing Bank and others.
The Shaykh : This is not by your choice. As for joining the union here, it is by your choice, so they differ.
The questioner : But at the end of his employment, if he resigns, he goes and takes this money.
The Shaykh : He takes only his right[Al-Baqarah 2:279].
The questioner : Excuse me, regarding the engineer, doctor, or pharmacist joining the union, it is obligatory upon him and not by his choice.
The Shaykh : The answer has already been given...
The Shaykh : I believe that all these unions are established on the basis of something other than Islam and are based on laws that contradict Islam. For example, in my understanding of the matter—and I may be wrong—it is necessary to collect funds from the members of these unions. Where do they take these funds? They deposit them in banks. In that case, the member becomes a partner with them, so it is not permissible. This is one of the reasons, of course. I am not an expert on the details of these unions, but I know in general that they are based on these man-made laws that contradict the Islamic Shari'ah. Therefore, it is not permissible for a Muslim to be a partner in them, except based on the principle of "except what you are compelled to do." And I do not think that this principle applies in a case like this.
The questioner : Savings and insurance that the state imposes on employees, and these funds are deposited in the Housing Bank and others.
The Shaykh : This is not by your choice. As for joining the union here, it is by your choice, so they differ.
The questioner : But at the end of his employment, if he resigns, he goes and takes this money.
The Shaykh : He takes only his right
But if you repent, you may have your principal - [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.
فإن تبتم فلكم رؤوس أموالكم لا تظلمون ولا تظلمونThe questioner : Excuse me, regarding the engineer, doctor, or pharmacist joining the union, it is obligatory upon him and not by his choice.
The Shaykh : The answer has already been given...
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.