Fatwa: # 19464
Category: Financial Transactions
Country: South Africa
Date: 27th September 2011

Title

I’m working in NGO as agriculture officer. Most people say that the money i earn is Haraam, I want to confirm is it true that NGO job is Haraam?

Question

I am working in a NGO, the organization name is ‘save the children’, I am an agricultural officer, and our work is to motivate people to sow vegetables. To motivate them we go to people homes and sometimes communicate with men. Our organization is basically from the USA and our salary comes in the form of dollars and my friend say that is a Haraam salary, please guide me as I am unsatisfied by my job. I feel that I have done a great sin. I have not found peace anywhere.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykumwa-rahmatullāhiwa-barakātuh.

Agriculture is commendable and encouraged in Islam.

Many verses of the Quran and Ahadith refer to agricultural activities.

 
Allah Ta’aala says;

أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ (63)أَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَ (64) سورة الواقعة

Well, tell Me about that (seed) which you sow:[56:63]

Is it you who grow it, or are We the One who grows?[56:64]

 
It is mentioned in a Hadith;

حدثنا قتيبة بن سعيد حدثنا أبو عوانة ( ح ) وحدثني عبد الرحمن بن المبارك حدثنا أبو عوانة عن قتادة عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال

 : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم ( ما من مسلم يغرس غرسا أو يزرع زرعا فيأكل منه طير أو إنسان أو بهيمة إلا كان له به صدقة ) (صحيح البخاري – ج 2 – ص 817 - دار ابن كثير ، اليمامة – بيروت)

“A Muslim who plants a tree or grows a crop, and then, a man, bird or animal eats of it, it will be charity on his part.”

Bukhari – vol 2 – pg. 817 – Dar ibnKatheer – Al Yamaama

Muslim – vol 3 – pg. 1189 – Dar Ihyaa Al turaath Al Arabi - Beirut

 

You stated that your work is to motivate people to sow vegetables.This service is Shariah compliant and your salary will also be Shariah compliant.

 

We understand you are a female. If our understanding is correct, then we also take this opportunity to remind you to observe the Shariah laws of Hijab.Cover yourself appropriately and do not interact with males unnecessarily.

Peace lies in conforming to the Sharia at all times and also making the Zikr of Allah.

 

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Hussein Issa,
Student of DarulIftaa
Mozambique

 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net

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