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Interview for a Job and Ethic.

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

My friend and I applied to the same job. For the company we applied to, there were two different positions. I applied to both positions and she applied to only one. For the position we both applied to, she was invited to an interview but I was not.

She texted me the questions right after her interview and now I feel really guilty because I have the interview questions for an upcoming interview for the job we both applied to.

How I should approach this?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

Interviews aren’t really like exams, so although you may know some potential questions, in reality, they may be alternating a series of questions which they have for interviewees. Moreover, employers are usually looking for more than a correct answer, unless the job depends on such exacting proficiency, so sometimes your manner and the way you answer is more indicative of who you are than the answer itself. Accordingly, you needn’t worry about the matter. Perhaps knowing the precise questions would give you a slight advantage over others, but the blessing of a job is from Allah Most High alone.

Please also see this answer.

And Allah Most High knows best.

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.

Can I Work for a Hair Restoration Company?

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Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: Assalam aleykum

I’ve recently gotten a job for a Hair Restoration Company as an accountant. This company sells hair products to help with balding and also sells Hair Systems (wigs). I have been reading a lot lately and I am kind of worried that my money earned from working with this company is haram since the majority of there sales are from Hair Systems (Wigs). I have nothing to do with the actual selling, promoting, or producing of the the Hair Systems (wigs) themselves since I am just the accountant for them and do all there book keeping and recording of sales and reconciliations and work in the back office. With all this being said, are my earnings from this company Halal or Haram?

Answer: assalamu alaykum

The permissibility of one’s work rests on two factors:

(i) the actual job being permitted, and
(ii) the course of income for one’s salary being permitted.

Regarding the job of an accountant, the general rule is that it is a permitted line of work.

As for the source of your income, the main problem a Hair Restoration Company potentially poses is the sale of real human hair. Synthetic wigs are permitted to sell, and the the money earned from their sale is also valid. However, the vast majority of scholars do not permit benefitting from real human hair or selling it.

Thus, if the majority of the income generated by this company is through the sale of wigs that are made from real human hair, and there is no other substantial source of permitted wealth it generates to pay its employees, then the income received from such a company would not be valid.

In this context, it is best to find alternative work. However, this does not have to be done immediately. Rather, one can continue working in their current job until they secure another form of employment. You should note though that the situation you are in is not as severe as many others, such as working as an accountant for an insurance company, since there is a minority opinion that deems the sale of real human hair to be valid. According to this opinion, it would seem that there is be no issue with your employment and income even if the majority of the company’s wealth was generated through the sale of human hair. Nonetheless, this is a minority opinion. (al-Ajnas, 2:24)

[Ustadh] Salman Younas

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Salman Younas  graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman where he spent five years studying Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Oxford and continues his traditional studies with scholars in the United Kingdom.

What Job Opportunities Can I Pursue After Finishing My Islamic Studies?

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Answered by Shaykh Umer Mian

Question: I am a recent graduate of a traditional Darul-Uloom in the UK and I find myself unsure of what career path to pursue. Salaries offered in mosques are low in relation to the current cost of living in the UK. Essentially, I would like a job whereby I can help people and benefit them with what I’ve studied. What do you recommend?

Answer: In the Name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful,

It seems that you are already aware of the opportunities to be the imam of a masjid or teacher in an Islamic school or madrasah. These are perhaps the most common careers pursued by graduates from Islamic seminaries such as the Darul Ulums. If you don’t find yourself inclined towards such opportunities or don’t feel they would be practical for you, then you may want to consider the following possibilities:

1) Chaplain. I cannot speak for the U.K., but in the U.S. and Canada, Muslim chaplaincy has really taken off in the past decade or so. Large institutions such as universities, hospitals, etc. are hiring Muslim chaplains to act as advisors, teachers, mentors, and administrators of Muslim activities. Your studies at the Darul Ulum could provide a strong foundation to fulfil these roles. However, you’d probably need to complete a chaplaincy course in order to be best prepared for the job. This career provides a great opportunity for da’wah and serving the Muslim community.

2) Arabic language instructor. Your studies at the Darul Ulum probably included significant exposure to the sciences of the Arabic language. Universities and other institutions in the Western world are in need of Arabic language instructors. Teaching in such places can provide great opportunity for da’wah. Many of one’s students would likely be Muslim, and there’s nothing better than connecting Muslims with the language of the Qur’an and Sunnah.

3) Graduate student/Researcher. Some students of sacred knowledge choose to pursue graduate studies in Western universities. The curriculum of a Darul Ulum has overlap with numerous academic fields, such as Near Eastern Studies, Religion, Law, History, etc. Obtaining a Ph. D. in one of these fields opens doors to the roles of academic researcher, professor, author, etc. Prior to pursuing this path, one should consult with trustworthy, knowledgeable Islamic scholars, in order to avoid the many pitfalls and challenges present in academia.

The above are some ideas of paths you could take to work your Darul Ulum education into a sustainable career. Of course, there are many other opportunities that are not directly related to the religious education you received at Darul Ulum. Some people choose to go back to school to study a profession such as medicine (doctor or nurse), information technology (programmer, systems administrator, help desk technician, etc.), business (small business owner, real estate agent, etc.), and so on.

With the financial independence offered by one of these careers, a person could be free to teach and serve the Muslim community on their own terms. Ultimately, choosing a career will depend on a number of personal factors such as education, experience, talents, natural inclinations, job market, family situation, etc. One should be sure to consult with trusted elders and Islamic scholars, and also pray istikhara.

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No one ever ate any food better than that which his own hands had earned, and the Prophet of Allah Dawud (upon him be peace) used to eat from what his own hands earned” (Bukhari).

Wassalam,

[Shaykh] Umer Mian

 

Should I Pursue a Career Using an Engineering Degree Earned While Being Sinful?

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Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question: Assalamu alaykum

I have an engineering degree. But I’m reluctant in pursuing any job using that degree. The reason is because, every single moment of my life during which I earned the degree was soaked in sin.

However, a year later or so, Allah blessed me with Islam and helped me get started in reforming myself!

I also get unrelenting waswas regarding that dark past. I feel guilty to make use of the degree.

Should I pursue a career using that degree?

Answer: Wa ‘alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

Focus on Allah – Ignore the Devil

Alhamdulillah. Allah has blessed you with a means to pursue a halal income with which you can support yourself, your dependants, and even give a little something in charity to help the needy. You should use this opportunity and not let doubts and regrets about the past throw you of course. These are the tricks of the Devil; ignore him and thank Allah by making the most of this blessing and with gratitude.

Besides the prophets, everyone commits sins. Sometimes, Allah takes people with the worst of sins and changes them into the best of people as way of showing how loving and merciful He is to us, and to thwart the Devil’s plan to make us lose hope in Allah. The door of repentance is open, and Allah is more pleased when a servant who says ‘I’m sorry for my sins’ than any one of us would be after narrowly escaping certain death (Muslim).

Fuḍayl’s Advice

Let me leave you with a conversation between Fuḍayl b. ʿIyaḍ and another man. Fuḍayl is one of these signs of Allah. He was a brigand – a crime which has the most severe stipulated punishment (ḥadd) in the Qurʾan. When he was inspired to leave his ways, he stopped, returned all the wrongfully taken property, studied ḥadith and lived in Mecca for the rest of his days. He is someone who’s sainthood would be declared by the likes of Imam Junayd and Shaykh ʿAbdul-Qadir al-Jilani.

Fuḍayl said to a man, ‘How old are you?’ The man said, ‘Sixty years old.’ Fuḍayl said, ‘You have been travelling to Allah for sixty years; you’ve almost reached him.’

‘O Abu ʿAli’, he replied, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him we are returning (2:156)’ (A verse recited when one recognises he is in a calamity).

Fuḍayl asked, ‘Do you realise what you are saying?’ and the an replied, ”Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him we are returning.’

After being requested to explain the words Fuḍayl said, ‘When you say “Indeed we belong to Allah” you are saying “I am a slave of Allah and I am returning to Him.” So whoever knows he is a slave of Allah and that he is returning to Him, he should know that he is going to be stood [before Him]. Whoever knows this, should know that he is going to be questioned, so he had better have an answer prepared.’

The man asked, ‘What’s the way out of this predicament?’

‘Easy,’ replied Fuḍāyl.

‘What?’ said the man.

‘Do well in what remains [of your life] and what has passed and what is to come will be forgiven.’ (Abu Nuʿaym, Hilyat al-Awliyaʾ).

This is sound advice from someone who has been in both situations: sin and sainthood.

Allah has opened the door of repentance and forgiveness for you. Don’t close it for yourself, and don’t let anyone else do so either.

May Allah lead us to that which is most pleasing to Him, always.

Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 to study and sit at the feet of some of the most erudite scholars of our time.

Over the following eighteen months he studied a traditional curriculum, studying with scholars such as Shaykh Adnan Darwish, Shaykh Abdurrahman Arjan, Shaykh Hussain Darwish and Shaykh Muhammad Darwish.

In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years, in Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Theology, Hadith Methodology and Commentary, Shama’il, and Logic with teachers such as Dr Ashraf Muneeb, Dr Salah Abu’l-Hajj, Dr Hamza al-Bakri, Shaykh Ahmad Hasanat, Dr Mansur Abu Zina amongst others. He was also given two licences of mastery in the science of Qur’anic recital by Shakh Samir Jabr and Shaykh Yahya Qandil.

His true passion, however, arose in the presence of Shaykh Ali Hani, considered by many to be one of the foremost tafsir scholars of our time who provided him with the keys to the vast knowledge of the Quran. With Shaykh Ali, he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Qur’anic Sciences, Tafsir, Arabic Grammar, and Rhetoric.

When he finally left Jordan for the UK in 2014, Shaykh Ali gave him his distinct blessing and still recommends students in the UK to seek out Shaykh Abdul-Rahim for Quranic studies. Since his return he has trained as a therapist and has helped a number of people overcome emotional and psychosomatic issues. He is a keen promoter of emotional and mental health.

Should I Wear the Hijab Despite the Difficulty to Get a Job Wearing It?

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Answered by Ustadha Shireen Ahmed

Question: Assalam alaykum,

I want to start wearing the hijab but in three years I will start university and hopefully go to medical school. I hear many people say that it is difficult to get a job if you are wearing the headscarf. What should I do?

Answer:Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah sister,

I pray this message reaches you in the best of health and iman.

I would stay strong and keep wearing it.

There are a couple reasons for this suggestion:

1) Wearing the hijab is something beloved to Allah Most High and His Messenger. When one performs this action it helps us to become beloved to Allah Most High and His Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him).

2) According to the four schools of Islamic law, the ruling on hijab is that it is obligatory for Muslim women to wear, and sinful to neglect this action.

3) Some related answers on hijab which you may benefit from reading are:

Denying the Obligation of Wearing Hijab

Can You Clarify the Standard Explanation of the Verse of Hijab? [Shafi’i]

What Are the Requirements of Hijab?

4) It may be that Allah Most High will grant you increased success in your studies if you stay strong and do the right thing for His sake. One should have strong internal faith and not allow oneself to be swayed by the faults one finds in others or when corruption becomes commonplace in one’s society.

5) Many muslim patients actually seek out practicing women doctors to become their regular physician and as their go to person for health advice.

6) In our area in Toronto, there are many women doctors who wear hijab and it has not been an issue/ barrier to them in working or getting their degrees. Many places now appreciate ethnic/ cultural diversity in serving the community (and understand that not all people need to look the same to be valued, or to derive benefit from).

7) When people give advice like that (as you were advised), one has to hold the advisor in a good opinion – but only take the good of what they say. In this case you can understand they are concerned about you and your future. In their *opinion* they think you may not be able to find work later on, but that is not necessarily a fact. Allah Most High gives success to whom He wills. Many times in life people do try to advise us, but we need to think for ourselves and realize that some people will give sound advice and others will not. It is important to surround oneself with good beneficial company, and find righteous people/ teachers who can help advise us with sound counsel when we are not sure as to the proper course of action in various circumstances which one faces in life.

8) Hijab also stands for how muslims value modesty (for both men and women) that everyone is expected to wear loose, non-transparent clothing, and interact with other (unrelated) people in a dignified manner.

Allah Most High knows best.

Wassalam
[Ustadha] Shireen Ahmed (Umm Umar)

Ustadha Shireen Ahmed (Umm Umar) inspires her students as a living example example of what is possible when one is committed to gaining sacred knowledge.  Teacher, student, activist, mother, wife — Umm Umar shows that it is possible to balance worldly responsibilities with the pursuit of knowledge.

Umm Umar was born and raised in Canada, where she graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology. During her university studies, she was actively involved in MSA work at the local and national levels. After graduation, she set out to formally pursue sacred knowledge, studying Arabic at the University of Damascus and Islamic studies at Jamia Abi Nour and taking private classes in Qur’anic recitation, Prophetic traditions, Islamic Law (Hanafi) and the Prophetic biography.

Can I Take a Job If There Is a Small Possibility I May Miss Some Prayers?

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Answered by Shaykh Jamir Meah

Question: Assalamu alaykum

I am considering working at a grocery store. Lunch and break are scheduled by our manager. If it is time to pray during lunch/break, I will offer my prayers.

Would it be permissible to take this job if I am reasonably certain that I can perform all prayers on time, although there is a small possibility I may miss some prayers?

Answer: Wa’alaykum assalam. I pray you’re well insha ‘Allah. May Allah reward you for being concerned about your prayers during work, as well as striving to pay off your student loan debt off as soon as possible.

It would be permissible take the job if you are reasonably sure that you can perform all the prayers on time, and even if there is a small possibility you may miss some prayers occasionally.

However, it would be a good idea to work out precautionary measures in advance, should you be faced with the rare situation where you may miss a prayer at work. These could include:
– Speaking to your employer in advance, and explaining to him how important it is for you to pray on time, and whether it is possible to pray outside of the usual break times if the situation requires it. You could pray in the briefest manner at these times, omitting sunna acts of the prayer if absolutely necessary.

-Speak to an understandable colleague if you feel you may miss a prayer on that particular day. Perhaps they won’t mind swapping breaks times.

-Pray two prayers close together. For example, if the break time is difficult to pray each prayer at their earliest times, pray Dhur near to when Asr will come in, then pray Asr as soon as it comes in.

Please also refer to the following answers for me information:

What Should I Do If I Have No Time To Pray At Work?

Is It Permissible to Delay Prayers Due to Work and Heavy Traffic?

How Can I Pray on Time With My Very Busy Job and Very Long Hours?

May Allah make things easy for you, and grant you every success.

Warmest salams,
[Shaykh] Jamir Meah

Shaykh Jamir Meah grew up in Hampstead, London. In 2007, he traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he spent nine years studying the Islamic sciences on a one-to-one basis under the foremost scholars of the Ribaat, Tarim, with a main specialization and focus on Shafi’i fiqh. In early 2016, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continues advanced studies in a range of Islamic sciences, as well as teaching. Jamir is a qualified homeopath.

The Etiquette of Earning a Livelihood: A Comprehensive SeekersHub Reader

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The etiquette of earning a livelihood forms the 13th chapter of Imam Al-Ghazali’s seminal work, the Ihya, which is widely regarded as the greatest work on Islamic spirituality in the world.

 

Which Job Would Be More Beneficial in Terms of Setting Me up for Marriage?

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

1. Would it be possible for you to help me find a spouse?

2. I have recently been offered two jobs:

One is a Call Center office job (full time) and the other is a Warehouse job for a Muslim organisation (full time but less hours).

Which job would be more beneficial in terms of setting me up for marriage?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

1. May Allah Most high grant you a righteous spouse. Consider asking some of the religious leaders in the community to keep an eye out for you, and continue praying the Prayer of Need (salat al-hajah). [see: How Does One Perform The Prayer Of Need (salat al-haja)?]

2. Consult with those in the industry, or anybody else who may be able to give some insights regarding both jobs. Thereafter, pray the Prayer of Seeking Guidance (salat al-istikhara), multiple times, if needed, and then make the decision you feel will be best for your this worldly and other worldly lives.

Please also see: Istikhara – A Powerful Prayer When In Need Of Guidance and: Love, Marriage and Relationships in Islam: All Your Questions Answered

And consider taking the following free class:
Marriage in Islam: Practical Guidance for Successful Marriages

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

wassalam,
[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.

The Woman I Love Doesn’t Want to Marry Me Because of My Low Income.

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Answered by Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil

Question: Assalam aleykum,

I am in love with a young woman. We have done sinful things in the past. Will Allah and the Prophet (upon him be blessings and peace) ever forgive me?

At first, she said she didn’t want to marry me because my income was too low. I begged, and then she agreed.

Soon after, she changed her mind and said she didn’t want to marry me anymore. I truly love her and want to marry her, and I’m planning to transfer to a better-paying job. What can I do?

Answer: Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray this finds you well. Please forgive me for the delay.

Forgiveness

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (upon him be blessings and peace) said, “Allah, the Exalted, has said: ‘O son of Adam, I forgive you as long as you pray to Me and hope for My forgiveness, whatever sins you have committed. O son of Adam, I do not care if your sins reach the height of the heaven, then you ask for my forgiveness, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, if you come to Me with an earth load of sins, and meet Me associating nothing to Me, I would match it with an earthload of forgiveness.”‘ Tirmidhi].

Please do not despair in the mercy of Allah. Allah loves you, and wants goodness for you. Yes, you have sinned, so continue to make a sincere repentance. Dunya is filled with trials, so after you fall, pick yourself up, make your repentance, then move forward.

Marriage

Before you even consider marriage, please listen to the free downloadable lesson set Getting Married, with Ustadha Shireen Ahmed and Shaykh Faraz Rabbani. When registration reopens, please enrol in Marriage in Islam: Practical Guidance for Successful Marriages. Please implement the wisdom in these resources.

Your situation is a difficult one. You have sinned with this young woman, you are in love with her, and she has changed her mind many times. However, the reality is that she she longer wants to marry you.

My advice to you is to surrender to the Will of Allah. You are torn with longing and heartache because you are hoping for something that may never happen. I pray that Allah soothe your pain. Tests of heartbreak are the amongst the hardest to bear, but bear this with patience, and bring yourself closer to Allah. Allah alone can soothe your pain.

Moving forward

Occupy your heart with Allah, and He will lift the anguish from it. Listen to and read Qur’an daily, wake up in the last third of the night and pray tahajjud.

Please choose your wife wisely. She will be your companion on your journey to Jannah, and the future mother of your children. Pick a woman who brings out the best in you, who accepts you as you are, and is happy to be supported by you.

Falling in love first can often cloud your judgement. I suggest that you speak to your family about wanting to married. Your parents want what is best for you, know you, and may already have someone in mind for you.

The heart wants what it wants. You can make this harder on yourself by pining for her, or you can make it easier by actively letting go.

Provision

I encourage you to read Surah Al-Waqiah as regularly as you can, to help you increase your provision, and to eliminate fear of poverty in your heart.

Please perform the Prayer of Need  regularly, beg Allah to remove her from your heart, and ask Him to send you a righteous and loving wife who will be your solace in this world and the next.

Please see:

[Ustadha] Raidah Shah Idil

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil has spent almost two years in Amman, Jordan, where she learned Shafi’i’ fiqh, Arabic, Seerah, Aqeedah, Tasawwuf, Tafsir and Tajweed. She continues to study with her Teachers in Malaysia and online through SeekersHub Global. She graduated with a Psychology and English degree from University of New South Wales, was a volunteer hospital chaplain for 5 years and has completed a Diploma of Counselling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. She lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with her husband, daughter, and mother-in-law.

Can You Give Me Any Supplication to Quickly Find a Good Job?

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Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: Can you give me any supplication to quickly find a good job? I have been struggling for the past 6 months but have not yet found a job.

Answer: assalamu alaykum

1. There are a number of supplications that you may recite that have been narrated from the Prophet (God bless him). I will mention two of them below that you should recite regularly especially during times when supplications are answered, such as immediately after the obligatory prayers.

اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِى بِحَلاَلِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَأَغْنِنِى بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ

and

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى

2. In addition to the above, there are a number of other actions that the Prophet (God bless him) identified as a cause for the increase of ones livelihood. They include:

(a) Seeking forgiveness from God (istighfar): The Qur’an states, “Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is Oft-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children.” (71:10-12)

(b) Maintaining ties with one’s family: The Prophet (God bless him) said, “Whoever wishes to see an increase in his livelihood and his life to be extended should maintain family ties.” [Bukhari, Muslim]

(c) Giving charity to the poor even if it is a small amount: The Qur’an says, “Whatever you spend in God’s cause, He will compensate it. God is the best of providers.” (34:39)

(d) Thanking God for his blessings: As the Qur’an states, “If you are thankful, verily I shall increase you.” (14:7)

Finally, it is important that you maintain trust in God and continue taking the means to find work. May God facilitate things for you and us.

Salman

Born and raised in New York, Ustadh Salman Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman. There he studies Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir.

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Photo: Jeff Standen