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upon you which will not be removed until you return to your religion. (Reported by Abû Daoud.)
Thus, in addition to agriculture, the Muslim must develop such industries, crafts, and professions as are
essential for the life of a community, for the strength of a free and powerful nation, and for the posterity and
wealth of a country. As the great scholars and jurists have explained, the essential industries and
professions are not merely permitted by the Islâmic Shari‘ah, they are in fact an obligation on the Muslim
community as a whole. Such obligations are termed “the obligations of sufficiency” (fard kifiyah); that is to
say, the Muslim community must include among its members people engaged in every essential science,
industry, and profession in numbers sufficient to meet its needs. If there is a shortage of qualified persons in
some field of essential science or industry, the entire Muslim community is blameworthy, especially those in
positions of authority. Imam al-Ghazzali says:
Sciences whose knowledge is deemed fard kifayah comprise every area which is indispensable for the
welfare of this world, such as the following: medicine, which is necessary for the life of the body; arithmetic,
for daily transactions and the division of legacies and inheritances, as well as others besides. These are the
sciences without which, because of their absence, a community would be reduced to narrow straits. But
should one who can practice them arise in the community, it would suffice, and the obligation to acquire their
knowledge would cease to be binding upon the rest of the community.No one should be surprised when we
say that medicine as well as arithmetic are of the sciences which are fard kifayah, as are the basic
industries, such as agriculture, weaving, politics, and even cupping and tailoring. For if a town should lack a
cupper, extinction would overtake its people and they would be driven to expose themselves to destruction.
Has not He Who has sent down the malady also sent down the remedy, given guidance for its use, and
prepared the means for administering it? It is not, therefore, permissible to expose oneself to destruction by
neglecting the remedy. (Ihya ‘Ulum al-Din, vol. 1 (The Book of Knowledge) translated by Nabih Amin Faris
Sh. Muhammad Ashraf, Lahore, Pakistan, 1966, p. 37)
The Qur‘ân mentions many industries, terming them Allâh’s favor and bounty. Allâh Ta‘ala says concerning
David (Daoud),...And We made iron soft for him (commanding): Make thou coats of mail and balance the
links.... (34:10-11) And We taught him the art of making garments (of mail) to protect you from your violence.
Will you then be thankful? (21:80) He says about Solomon:...And We made a fountain of molten copper flow
for him; and of the jinn there were those who worked in front of him by his Lord’s permission. And if any of
them turned aside from Our command, We made him taste the penalty of the blazing fire. They worked for
him as he desired, (making) synagogues and statues, basins as large as reservoirs and boilers built into the
ground. Give thanks, O House of David.... (34:12-13) And He says about Duhl-Qarnayn and his building the
high dam: He said, ‘That in which my Rabb has established me is better (than tribute). Therefore, (if you)
help me with your strength, I will erect a barrier between you and them. Give me blocks of iron.’ Then when
he had filled up the space between the two cliffs, he said, ‘Blow (with your billows).’ Then when he had set it
afire, he said, ‘Give me molten copper to pour on it.’ Thus, they were unable to scale it, nor were they able to
dig through it.’ (18:95-97)
Allâh mentions the story of Noah (Nuh) and the construction of the ark, and He also mentions great ships the
size of mountains which sail the seas: And among His signs are the ships on the sea, like mountains.
(42:32)
The Qur‘ân also mentions hunting in all its varied forms, from the catching of fish and the pursuit of land
animals to diving in the deep for pearls, coral, and the like.
In addition to this, the Qur‘ân has informed us about the value of iron in such emphatic terms as are apt to
be found in any other previous book, religious or secular. After mentioning the sending of prophets to the
people and revealing the scriptures, Allâh Ta‘ala says:...And We send down iron, in which there is great
strength and benefits for mankind.... (57:25) It is not surprising that the surah containing this verse was given
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the title of Al-Hadid (Iron).
Any sort of work which fills a need in the society or brings real benefit is regarded as good, provided the
person performs it in a proper manner, as is required by Islâm. Islâm gave dignity to many professions which
people considered lowly and degrading—for example, the occupation of shepherding. Although people do
not usually look upon shepherds with esteem or honor, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, ‘Allâh did not send a
prophet without his having tended sheep‘, They asked, ‘You too, O Messenger of Allâh? He replied, ‘Yes. I
tended sheep for wages for the people of Makkah‘. (‘Compiled by al-Bukhâri.)
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), Allâh’s Messenger and the Seal of the Prophets, used to tend sheep! Moreover they
were not even his own sheep but belonged to the people of Makkah, and he tended them for fixed wages.
He told his Companions this in order to teach them that honor belongs to those who work, and not to those
who sit idle and are parasites.
The Qur‘ân tells the story of the Prophet Moses (Muse) (s.a.w.s.) who worked for eight years as a hired man
to gain the hand of an old man’s daughter in marriage. Moses was an excellent worker and employee; the
old man’s daughter had displayed real insight into his character. She said, O my father, employ him; truly,
the best for thee to employ is the strong and trustworthy one. (28:26)
Ibn ‘Abbas said, “David was a maker of coats of mail and shields, Adam was a farmer, Noah a carpenter,
Idris a tailor, and Moses a shepherd.’‘(Reported by al-Hakim.) Since every prophet of Allâh had some
occupation, the Muslim should derive satisfaction in his occupation or profession. A hadith states: Noone
earns his food better than the onewho worked with his hands, and the prophet of Allâh, David earned his
food by working with his hands. (Compiled by al-Bukhâri and others.)
Industries and Professions Condemned by Islâm
Islâm has prohibited certain professions and industries to its followers because they are harmful to the
beliefs, morals, honor, or good manners of the society.
Prostitution: Prostitution, for example, is legal in many countries of the West; permits and licenses are
issued to those who ply this trade, and prostitutes enjoy rights similar to other professionals. Islâm absolutely
rejects and condemns this practice, and forbids any female, free or slave, to earn money by selling her
sexuality.
During the period of jahiliyyah some people used to exact a daily tribute from their female slaves without
caring in what manner they earned this money to pay their masters. A majority of them had to resort to
prostitution; some masters even forced their slave-girls to prostitution in order to earn a paltry fee. When
Islâm came, it lifted this disgraceful burden from its sons and daughters. Allâh Ta‘ala revealed,...And do not
force your slave-girls to prostitution if they desire chastity, in order that you may seek the pleasures of this
world’s life.... (24:33)
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that Ibn Ubayy, the chief of the hypocrites of Madinah, came to the Prophet (s.a.w.s.),
bringing with him a very beautiful slave-girl named M‘uadhah, and saying, “O Messenger of Allâh! She
belongs to such and such orphans. Will you not allow her to commit fornication so that they may receive the
price of it?” “No!” replied the Prophet (s.a.w.s.). (Tafsir of Fakhr al-Deen al-Razi, vol. 23, p. 320.)
Thus Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) forbade this abominable profession, regardless of who might derive
benefit from it, rejecting any claim concerning need, distress, or any other worthy purpose in order that
Muslim society might remain pure of such degrading practices.
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