What Should I Avoid When I Start Practicing Law?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I study law in the Netherlands to help those vulnerable due to a lack of legal knowledge. Before specializing in a field or choosing a role, is there anything I must avoid, regardless of my intention?

Answer

Thank you for your question. Yes, regardless of your intention, there are certain things you need to be cautious about; may Allah reward you for being scrupulous.

Benefit Others

Intend to benefit others with your knowledge and use it to help those who are oppressed.

The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“…the most beloved of people (to Allah) are the ones who are most beneficial to other people.” [Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir]

And the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or oppressed.” It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I help him when he is oppressed. But how can I help him when he oppresses?’ He said: ‘Prevent him from oppression, that is your help for him.’” [Tirmidhi]

Help vulnerable people. Consider practicing human rights law, immigration law, criminal defense for the wrongly accused, labor law, environmental law, or consumer protection, where you can uphold justice and ethics without compromising your Islam.

Avoid

Please take a course on Islamic trade and finance so you can have a full comprehension of what is and is not allowed and go through them in detail with a teacher. Here are some to get you started:

• Avoid haram transactions & riba (usury) like facilitating or drafting contracts based on riba, such as working in conventional banking or interest-based finance law.
• Don’t actively support or promote laws that contradict Islamic values, such as writing haram contracts, assisting in unjust divorces, or defending oppressive policies.
• Ensure that any legal work you engage in is truthful and just, and avoid manipulating loopholes to exploit others.
• Don’t defend criminals, fraudsters, or those who harm others, especially when you know they are guilty. Bearing false testimony is an enormity.
• Don’t assist in tax evasion, unfair labor policies, or environmental harm, which go against the ethics of Islam.
• Pray istikhara when in doubt, and seek Allah’s guidance every step of the way.

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied ‘aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.