Muslims of Norwich » Fatwā

Interest

Another Muslim of Norwich — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:48:03 +0000

Asalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah,

I would like to ask you a question on interest?

What is the best thing to do with the interest you get?
I have heard you can’t give it away to charity, is that right?

JazakAllahu Khair

“Is it permissible to vote to stop the BNP getting into power”?

Another Muslim of Norwich — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:18:04 +0000

Asalam Alaykum,

With the coming elections, where we know are haram in the sense of supporting Democracy, which is in itself kufr. Is it permissable to vote for a party in your area with a specific intention to stop the BNP (British National Party) getting into power? Even though the other three parties do many things which harm Muslims like start illegal wars and make laws which force us into debt (like the national debt), all these things the BNP have never done. However the different class of politician the BNP breeds is a different shaytan alltoghether. They input racist councillors and if they are in power they will no doubt be even worse. If the BNP did get into power i beleive their would be a civil war here in the UK. Perhaps i am being over cautious. But in this case would it be permissable to then vote for another councillor, but with the full knowledge it is the lesser of two evils one chooses?

Thank You

A Non-Muslim Relative’s Funeral

Another Muslim of Norwich — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:59:24 +0000

As-salaamu ‘alaykum

My wife’s grandfather passed away this weekend therefore the funeral will be coming up in the next week or so. My initial thoughts were to attend the burial but not the service, I have just found out there will be no burial as he is to be cremated. I wanted to know if we are even permitted to attend.

It is part of keeping the family ties that we have been commanded to maintain to give our condolences to our relatives whether they are Muslim or not.

As for attending services of religions other of Islam, that is forbidden because it implies honouring what Allah has made clear is wrong and a way to the Fire.

And Allah knows best.

Sh. Ali Laraki

Job in insurance company

Another Muslim of Norwich — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:29:23 +0000

Asalaamu Alykum Dearest Imaam,

I hope and pray that you are in the best of health and Imaan Inshallah rabil ameen.

I have an employment agency that has recommened a job to me. It is with a company, as an IT Customer Liason Manager, which basically means managing their IT suppliers. It will be in their Life Insurance division. The company, as you may know, are a financial services company. I wanted to know, in your opinion (which I value very much) is it permissible to pursue such a position? My inkling is that it isn’t…. but your advice would be greatly appreciated.

A woman dentist treating male patients

Another Muslim of Norwich — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:59:56 +0000

Asalaamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I am a female dental therapy and hygiene student studying in the UK. I would like to know in your opinion if it’s allowed to be following a career where I would be treating male patients, as it is not possible to select female only patients under discriminatory law. If it is impermissible, would it also be impermissible to complete training where you will have to see male patients, but you have the intention to work abroad in a muslim country once you qualify, to earn a halal income?

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Wa alaikum salam

Given that those are your circumstances and providing you work in a safe environment where no male will be able to take advantage of being alone with you because the place is constantly accessed by other people or you have a third person working with you who is also present, I think it will be permissible for you to carry on with your professional activity.

And Allah knows best

Sheykh Ali Laraki

Halal income

Another Muslim of Norwich — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:23:59 +0000

Here we will post requests for fatwa and advice from Shaykh Ali Laraki. Watch this space for his reply.

Assalamu Alaykum,

I’m an English/Spanish to French translator based in France. I have recently finished my training and started freelancing in October 2009. I have a hard time finding halal translation works either it is haram like translating gambling websites or mashbuh such as translating a fitness websites with non Islamic images or cosmetics which in Western countries (even some Arab countries) are used primarily to tabarruj or have images that are showing women not properly dressed. I face a lot of mixed things like this which I call mashbuh. As for the technical translations, often i’m regarded as not having enough experience or in other cases my rate being too high (and it is not high 0.05USD~0.03Euros per source word). As for Legal and Medical translations, I cannot carry out them properly becausd I do not have a Legal/Medical background in studies.

Recently I saw on the European Union website that there will be examination entrance for French translators in July 2010. Please give me your opinion or just Nasiha regarding the fact of working as a translator in a European institution? Is it a halal work? Or is it mashbuh and hence it should be avoided? Should I be less strict on mashbuh work in our time/era because of the generalization of haram/mashbuh ? I have read several fatwa on this topic and the general principle of “help each other in birr and taqwa and not ithm and ‘udwan” and that what leads to haram becomes itself haram…Sometimes I also avoid certain translation just because I do not know if it is or not halal and by the time i have an answer from a ‘alim it will be to late to bid on the project.

The reason I chose to freelance was to be able to choose the work I will translate to make sure my earnings are halal. However I face so much difficulties finding work as freelancer that I’m thinking to turning to be an employed translator although I perfectly know I will have to face a situation where I will have to translate something not 100% halal.

Sorry for the length of my email. I hope I made my point clear and that my English is comprehensible to you.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

A sister in France.
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Assalamu alaikum

Many professionals in many fields in general and in the field of translation in particular meet difficulties in finding translation assignments that have no relation with any kind of haram or doubtful activity.

There are some translations that are clearly haram to undertake, like ones related to gambling, alcohol, etc. It is clear that a Muslim translator should not be involved in such things. Other translations fall in a grey area where you may feel that, although the matter is not haram in itself, like fitness, for example, it may be used in a way that will end up being haram, such as in gyms where men and women are mixed and not properly dressed.

In some situations the translation may be used for an apparently halal purpose, like construction, and will end up being a building where haram activities are taking place, like a bank, etc.

This goes back to the hadith that order us to abandon that which gives us doubt for that which gives us no doubt:

دَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لَا يَرِيبُكَ

And since doubt is something very personal, my advice is to follow the instruction of the Prophet – may Allah bless him and grant him peace – whenever you are offered a translation job and to ask Allah – exalted He is – to make your rizq halal. He – subahanahu – said:

(وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ)

Which means: “Whoever has taqwa of Allah – He will give him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect. Whoever puts his trust in Allah – He will be enough for him.” At-Talaq 2-3

And Allah knows best

Sheykh Ali Laraki

Fatwas

Another Muslim of Norwich — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:56:45 +0000

Here you can ask Shaykh Ali Laraki about issues in the fiqh of Islam. Write to (info@muslimsofnorwich.org.uk) and we will forward the question to him insha’Allah.