21 thoughts on “Working in Construction: Building a Church”

1. Asalamualaikum Brother Moosa. There is a shop that sell fresh vegetables, fruits, and really good fish. However at the back of the shop they have what looks like a shrine with incense burning and a plate of fruits as an offering. Is it allowed to purchase groceries at this place?

   Reply ↓

   • Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. Stay away from the shrine, and purchase whatever permissible items you wish from such a store.

   • Asalamualaikum Brother Moosa. BarakAllahu feekum. May Allah Ta’ala Reward you bountiful and make your scales heavy with good deeds. Ameen.

     To make my heart at peace can you direct me to the proof that I am allowed to purchase goods at this place?

     BarakAllahu feekum

   • Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. Quran 2:275, the part of the Verse which means: “…And Allaah has made business transactions permissible…”

   • ‏السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

     BarakAllahu feekum, May Allah Ta’ala Reward you and make your scales heavy with good deeds. Ameen.

     I am working at a Trading Company which deals with all kind of electronic items. One of my responsibilities is to give quotations to the customers according to the requirements.
     As SOUND SYSTEMS are also in our product series we have received a requirement from a CINEMA THEATER for the same.
     As I am just an employee at the company I had to quote for this requirement and I have provided quotation for the theater also.

     Is it permissible to deal with this kind of trading even giving quote and also doing business with them? Am I sinful for giving quotation and aiding in this kind of transactions?

     May Allah accept and reward you for the efforts…
     Barak Allah Feekum va Jazak Allah Khayrn

   • وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته

     Since the most common use of “CINEMA THEATER” equipment and systems is disobedience, then being involved in its sale, transport, storage, advertising, etc. is to be avoided. And Allaah knows best. May Allaah bless you and grant you success.

2. Assalamu alaykum

   Is it permissible to enter, sit & eat in non-muslim hotels in which pictures of their deities are being hanged down in the walls ?

   Reply ↓

   • Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. The worst “zoor” (evil speech, actions) ever is polytheism, so when a Muslim passes by such places where idols are honored and revered, he passes by with nobility. He does not remain in a place where false deities are honored. “And when they pass by falsehood (zoor), they pass by with dignity…” [Meaning of Quran 25:72] As the scholars mention: Since the true worshippers of ar-Rahmaan are described as passing by falsehood with dignity, then it is even more clearly understood that they are not part of a gathering of falsehood. And Allaah knows best.

   • A muslim friend of mine was playing a video game where the game character could be made to prostrate to an idol to restore its health and for points. When I came to know about this, I strongly advised them not to play that game and repent thinking them falling into shirk to which was replied “how is that shirk ? I am just mashing buttons ! And I don’t really like how the game has been made that way but that’s how it is for points ..” . What would be your advise dear ustaadh ? Is someone falling into major shirk when play like that ?

   • How can Muslims be entertained by the most heinous crime possible? How can Muslims see someone prostrating to other than Allah and enjoy it? Or control the game character and push the buttons to make that happen? With all the games available to play, a Muslim chooses on his own accord, with no one forcing him, to play a game where his character worships other than Allah?! Gamers need to fear Allah before they play themselves into the Hellfire! Before their frivolity leads them to a dead heart and total religious neglect and abandonment, and we ask Allah for safety from His Anger and Punishment!

3. (Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. Stay away from the shrine, and purchase whatever permissible items you wish from such a store.)

   So If that is the case, purchasing foods (veg foods) from such hotels are allowed based on your above reply ..Right ?
   As I’m from India here such practices are very common in their shops. Avoiding all these shops would make things difficult for us. Pls clarify.

   Reply ↓

   • Business transactions with polytheists are allowed, yes. If you can shop elsewhere, where you do not have to see such offensive images, it would be better for you. But those transactions are permissible. And Allaah knows best.

4. Assalaam alaikum
   What about spices or foods that have a picture of an idol or a name of one of their deity on it? If someone else bought it, is it halal or not?

   Reply ↓

5. Bismillahi Arraahmaani Alraheem
   Asalamu’aleykum warahmetullahi wabarakathu. May Allaah preserve you. my question is what about building the restaurant with Bar in it or may be a night club?

   Reply ↓

   • Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh. Its the same answer: You may not take part in building something that is intended for the disobedience of Allaah.

6. As salaamu alaikum my brother i have two questions.. a brother was married to a Christian woman and then she later decides to convert to Islam is their marriage still valid or do they have to do an Islamic ceremony

   Secondly if a brother is married to a believing woman and he commits adultery with a non believer woman after the repentance of both parties will she be lawful for him to marry if she takes her shahada and if so what is the conditions of him going about doing that… Barakallahu feek

   Reply ↓

   • Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. 1. The marriage contract remains valid, no need to re-do it. 2. After genuine repentance, the person is no longer a zaanee, and people are allowed to marry. And Allaah knows best.

7. السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

   May Allāh ﷻ provide you with the best reward ’ustāḏ.

   Since the action of helping to construct a Church is assisting other people in committing Shirk, would we perform takfīr on the one who ascribes himself/herself to Islām and does this action, assuming this person is well-acquainted with what they are providing assistance in?

   Reply ↓

   • وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته

     If he erred in ignorance, he is to be taught, with patience and good manners.

     If he intends to support the spread of shirk through this work, then he leaves Islam in such a case, and refuge with Allah is sought.

     And we are focused on teaching and reminding, especially in the West, far away from knowledge and scholars; we are not hasty nor ambitious to declare people outside of Islam. And Allah knows best.

   • Ustadh, I agree that the matter of takfīr is not light. May Allāh ﷻ protect us from unjustly labeling Muslims as kuffār. آمين

     I just need further clarification.

     Is the act of helping to construct a church inherently kufr akbar just as prostrating to other than Allāh ﷻ is inherently kufr akbar, or does it become kufr akbar by way of belief? If someone who ascribes himself to Islām helps construct a church knowing that he is assisting other people in committing shirk, but he does it solely because he needs to earn money or something like that, would we label him a kāfir?

   • Let’s make distinctions between general rulings, “Whoever does such-and-such is a disbeliever,” and applying that to individual cases. This is very important. Generalities are stated generally; specific applications upon individuals go through a thorough legal process.

     So here: Aiding someone to worship other than Allah is apostasy. Whoever does that is an apostate. Whether or not an individual is excused from that ruling is part of the process of applying that ruling to a specific scenario. Issues of mawaani’ (legal impediments) and shuroot (conditions) need looked at by a person qualified to judge the individual and apply the appropriate ruling to his specific scenario. I hope this helps. And Allah knows best.