Question:
Assalamualaikum, I work in a pest control company and my company is successful in the bid for pest control work at a church, however, all my workers are Muslims.
What about other services such as wiring and plumbing services? Is it permissible for us to enter a church with the intention to work?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt, wbt.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
As the mukadimah, we present two important points:
- The original ruling for a Muslim to enter the house of worship of other religions is permissible if it is for permissible intentions of syara’. (Refer our previous article https://muftiwp.gov.my/en/artikel/irsyad-fatwa/irsyad-fatwa-umum-cat/2647-irsyad-fatwa-248-the-ruling-of-entering-other-religion-s-house-of-worship-and-attending-wedding-of-christians-in-a-church)
- However, we would also like to emphasize that the ruling of a Muslim to be involved in the building of the house of worship of other religions is haram according to the opinion of majority of scholars. (Refer https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/3000-al-kafi-1033-hukum-penglibatan-muslim-dalam-pembinaan-rumah-ibadat-agama-lain)
Regarding wiring, plumbing and other such services at the house of worship of other religions, in our opinion, it is permissible, for it is included under the general field of muamalah among people which is wide and flexible.
These services are a worldly service of which do not have a direct relation with the rituals of other religions. Even without electricity or water pipes, the place is still considered as a house of worship and they are still able to perform their religious rituals.
Thus, we consider it is permissible on the basis of helping one another and a two-way muamalat between humans, not on the basis of helping with the prosperity of other religions. Allah SWT states:
لَّا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّـهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ
“Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them.”
Surah al-Mumtahanah (8)
According to Imam Ibnu Battol, muamalah and interaction with the disbelievers are permissible except in trade that could help the disbelievers to fight against the Muslimin. (Refer Fath al-Bari 4/410)
As for pest control service, then it is included under the general commandment of the Prophet PBUH through the hadith narrated by Aisyah R.Anha:
خَمْسٌ فَوَاسِقُ يُقْتَلْنَ فِي الْحَرَمِ الْعَقْرَبُ وَالْفَارَةُ وَالْحُدَيَّا وَالْغُرَابُ وَالْكَلْبُ الْعَقُورُ
“Five are the vicious beasts which should be killed even in the state of Ihram: scorpion, rat, kite, crow and voracious dog.”
Sahih Muslim (1198)
Conclusion
To conclude, in our opinion offering wiring, plumbing and pest control services and others at the house of worship of other religions is permissible and is not considered as helping with the prosperity of other religions.
This cannot be analogically deduced (qiyas) with the prohibition against getting involved with the building of other religions’ house of worship, for the matters discussed in this article only revolves around general services for everyday lives.
Wallahua’lam.