My brother works as a lawyer and earns a great deal of money, and some scholars advised him to leave this job. What is your advice to him?
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The questioner : My brother works in the field of law, meaning he is a lawyer, and he earns a great deal of money. Some scholars advised him to leave this job. What do you advise him to do? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The meaning of being a lawyer is protecting rights. If a lawyer seeks to establish the truth and refute falsehood, he is rewarded for that and earns reward.
However, if he seeks to succeed in his legal cases whether by truth or falsehood, then this profession becomes forbidden for him, and it is not permissible for him to practice it. Actions are by intentions. A lawyer may defend a weak man who is unable to defend himself, defending him to preserve his right or to recover it. In that case, he is rewarded for repelling injustice from others. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 2443 They said: O Messenger of Allah! As for the wronged one, how do we support the wrongdoer? He said: .
So look at the state of your brother’s legal work.
If it is of the first type, meaning defending to establish the truth and refute falsehood, then he is on the right path, and what he earns as compensation for this legal work is lawful with no doubt. If it is the second type, where he defends to win for himself and prevail with his argument whether by truth or falsehood, then you should look at the benefit. If you see that the benefit lies in avoiding him, meaning avoiding eating from his wealth and returning his gift, then do so. If you do not see any benefit in that, then there is no blame on you for eating from his wealth and accepting his gift.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The meaning of being a lawyer is protecting rights. If a lawyer seeks to establish the truth and refute falsehood, he is rewarded for that and earns reward.
However, if he seeks to succeed in his legal cases whether by truth or falsehood, then this profession becomes forbidden for him, and it is not permissible for him to practice it. Actions are by intentions. A lawyer may defend a weak man who is unable to defend himself, defending him to preserve his right or to recover it. In that case, he is rewarded for repelling injustice from others. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one.
انصر أخاك ظالماً أو مظلوماًBy preventing him from committing injustice
أن تمنعه من الظلمSo look at the state of your brother’s legal work.
If it is of the first type, meaning defending to establish the truth and refute falsehood, then he is on the right path, and what he earns as compensation for this legal work is lawful with no doubt. If it is the second type, where he defends to win for himself and prevail with his argument whether by truth or falsehood, then you should look at the benefit. If you see that the benefit lies in avoiding him, meaning avoiding eating from his wealth and returning his gift, then do so. If you do not see any benefit in that, then there is no blame on you for eating from his wealth and accepting his gift.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.