Accepting a job in other than one's specialization

20-12-2015 | IslamWeb

Question:

I have recently graduated from college with a criminal justice degree in the United States. I have been called for an interview for a teaching job at a high school. Is this job halal for me to work in if I get hired?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

It seems that your concern is that teaching is not your specialty and that you are wondering whether it is permissible to work in other than your (academic) area of expertise. You should know that the criterion in this regard is your ability to efficiently carry out this job. If you believe that you are able to do this job efficiently, then there is no harm in accepting it. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {...And do good; indeed, Allaah loves the doers of good.} [Quran 2:195] 'Aa’ishah may Allaah be pleased with her narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said, "Verily, Allaah loves that when anyone of you does a job, he should perfect it." [Al-Bayhaqi]

However, if you fear that you may not be able to carry out this job as required, then it is impermissible for you to accept it unless the school or any other entity offers you training in order to learn how to perform the job as due.

Allaah knows best.

www.islamweb.net