Impermissibility of keeping job that requires lying to customers Fatwa No: 336820
- Fatwa Date:2-1-2017
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, Sheikh. I have a question regarding my husband's job. He is new to Saudi Arabia and used to work as a financial analyst in India. Now, after a year has passed, he finally got a job as a sales supervisor in a company. In this field, many employees are put under pressure in order to sell the products in the market by the company, and they tell lies to the customers. My husband is a newcomer in this field, and I am totally unsatisfied with his job given that in this field, there are many chances of earning one's provision in a haram way by selling the products in a wrong way. I have asked my husband to leave this field several times, and I have explained to him that there are more chances of earning haram provision, but he tells me that he had been jobless in Riyadh for the past year and does not want to leave the job as he owes money to brothers in islam and wants to return it as soon as possible, Allaah willing. The company is training him in this field now as my husband has no knowledge about it. Praise be to Allaah, he can get a job in his own field (financial analyst) in Riyadh, but the salary is much lower, so he is unable to work as he has many responsibilities towards his family members as he is the eldest son of his family and his father is old. Sheikh, please advise me as I am totally confused and very afraid of Allaah's, The Exalted, severe punishment and the torment of Hell. Allaah, The Exalted, tells us to earn halal provisions and Allaah, The Exalted, accepts only halal provisions, and He helps those who work hard to obtain halal provisions in today's generation. Please Sheikh, advice me. May Allaah, The Exalted, accept our deeds. Amen, O Allaah, The Lord of the worlds.
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
It is not permissible for your husband to lie to customers in order to sell the company's products. The company's pressure and his financial condition and other excuses that were mentioned in the question do not justify that. He must stop doing this immediately.
If his work in the company requires lying and cheating, then he must stop working in this company and look for another lawful job, even if it is with a lower income.
You should remind him to think good of Allah in the sense that He will facilitate his affairs and help him repay his debts. This can only be achieved by fearing Allah and abandoning what is forbidden, as Allah says (what means): {And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect.} [Quran 65:2-3]
Allah knows best.