Working as an Intellectual Property Lawyer or Patent Lawyer

24-5-2021 | IslamWeb

Question:

Asalamualaikum, I have a question regarding being a lawyer. Is it permisabble to be an IP lawyer or patent lawyer. Would it be permissible to protect the trademark of a company that sells haram items. Jazakallah.

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Answer:

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.

Working as a lawyer for intellectual rights, patents, and other rights, is permissible as long as they are rights approved by the Sharee’ah.

As for working as a lawyer for a trademark of a company that produces what is forbidden, it is not permissible because doing so is cooperation in sin.

The Fatwa of the Permanent Committee reads:

“If working as a lawyer is for the purpose of realizing a right and nullifying falsehood according to the Sharee’ah, and restoring rights to their owners, and supporting the oppressed – then it is legitimate, because this is cooperating in righteousness and piety; otherwise, it is not permissible because of cooperation in sin and transgression. Allah Says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.} [Quran 5:2]” [End of quote]

Allah knows best.