ASSALAMU ALAIKUM
26 Muharram 1431 (12-01-2010)
Hassaan Sulaiman
Karachi, Pakistan
The Fuqaha have clearly ruled that it is not permissible for a Muslim to work for a non-Muslim employer. The Muslim worker will have to compromise the Deen when he works under a kaafir boss. In fact, this prohibition will apply to working for even such a faasiq Muslim who requires
his employee to compromise the Shariah, e.g. not perform Salaat on time, mingling with the opposite sex, working in a music environment, taking pictures, or doing any other haraam act.
If the non-Muslim supervisor of the Muslim company does not interfere with the worker?s Deen, then it will be permissible to work for the Muslim company. But if the non-Muslim supervisor has been given the right by the company to act in a manner which constitutes interference in the Deen, then it will not be permissible to work for such a company.
A Muslim company is under obligation to allow its workers time off for their Salaat ? daily, Jumuah and Eid, and not to interfere with the Deen by imposing haraam conditions and activities on them. If the Muslim employer fails in this aspect, then it is not permissible to work for such a faasiq employer.
The same law will apply whether in a Muslim or non-Muslim country. The mas?alah is to safeguard the Imaan and Akhlaaq of the Muslim worker, hence the prohibition to work for such persons who constitute impediments in the path of the Deen.

Was-salaam
A.S. Desai