Is it permissible for a Muslim to work for the People of the Book if they order him to commit a sin, such as ordering him to make tea for them during the day of Ramadan?

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : Excuse me, here we are talking about the People of the Book. Is it permissible for a Muslim to work for the People of the Book, such as the Christians or the Jews? And if they order them to disobey Allah, for example, if someone in Ramadan works for a Christian who orders him to commit a sin by making tea, is he allowed to disobey him even if it leads to him leaving the job?

The Shaykh : Of course, he must do so. And that is why I wanted to say, but you continued in the question, so the continuation clarified the question, and there is no longer room for the question; because it is clear: So I wanted to say: It is permissible for a Muslim to work for a Christian or a Jew if his work is prescribed and permissible in the Shari'ah. But if his work is contrary to his religion, he must resign from it at the first moment. As for the permissibility of working for a non-Muslim, we have some hadiths that 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) worked for a Jew for a day, in exchange for every bucket he drew from the well, he was paid a date. He would draw a bucket from the well for a date. The one who worked was 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, and the employer was a Jew. This is permissible. But if he tells him, "Do you not want to pray with the congregation?" as many Muslims do today, let alone Jews and Christians. Many of my Egyptian brothers ask me this question: I work in a restaurant, I work in a company, I am not allowed to pray the congregational prayer in the mosque, and I am not even allowed to pray the Friday prayer in the mosque. So I tell him, you must stipulate with him that you are free to pray all the prayers when you are with him in the mosque, and especially the Friday prayer. If he refuses, tell him: "Peace be upon you," and leave the job, and your provision is from Allah. I think the answer to the question is finished. Is it clear?

The questioner : It is clear.