Keeping one’s business open during Jumu’ah with a non-Muslim manager
Q: Is it permissible for a Muslim business owner to keep his business open during Jumu’ah or any other salaah time while he attends the musjid, but has a non-Muslim manager keeping the business open during this time?
A: Jumu’ah Salaah is one of the most significant symbols of Islam. The respect for Jumu’ah demands that you close the business for Jumu’ah. Who knows, for this little sacrifice that you go through, Allah Ta'ala will multiply your profits and grant you immense barkat.
یٰۤاَیُّها الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِذَا نُوۡدِیَ لِلصَّلٰوة مِنۡ یَّوۡمِ الۡجُمُعَة فَاسۡعَوۡا اِلٰی ذِکۡرِ اللّٰه وَ ذَرُوا الۡبَیۡعَ ؕ ذٰلِکُمۡ خَیۡرٌ لَّکُمۡ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡن (الجمعة: ٩)
وإذا صعد الإمام المنبر جلس وأذن المؤذنون بين يدي المنبر بذلك جرى التوارث ولم يكن على عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلا هذا الأذان ولهذا قيل هو المعتبر في وجوب السعي وحرمة البيع والأصح أن المعتبر هو الأول إذا كان بعد الزوال لحصول الإعلام به والله أعلم (الهداية 1/84)
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Q: This has still not answered my question. Is it permissible to leave your business open while a non Muslim manager runs your business and you are at the masjid?
A: Some aspects of Deen are forbidden on account of the fact that they may lead to future disaster. The Qur’aan Shareef had stopped the Sahaabah radhiyallahu anhum from using the word ‘raa`ina’ whereas the word ‘raa`ina’ does not have an unpleasant meaning. However, it was on account of the possibility of the word being misconstrued that the Qur’aan had stopped the Sahaabah radhiyallahu anhum from using the word and instructed that they use a word that is not at all ambiguous. Leaving the shop open at the time of Jumu`ah creates ambiguity in peoples’ minds and raises suspicions that the shop owner does not have any respect for Jumu’ah, and it is incumbent for a Muslim to avoid areas of suspicion.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿الجمعة: ٩﴾
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